UN experts have warned against an increase in the number of animal-to-human diseases if measures are not taken to protect wildlife and preserve the environment.
Scientists call the term "zoonotic diseases" such as Ebola, SARS, Zika, HIV, West Nile, and now Corona (Covid-19).
These experts attributed the emergence of diseases such as the emerging coronavirus (Covid 19) to an increased demand for animal protein, unsustainable agricultural practices and climate change.
They said that animal diseases, which no one cares about seriously, kill about two million people annually.
Estimates indicated that the Corona virus could cost the world about nine trillion dollars over two years.
It is reported that the Ebola virus, West Nile virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) began infecting animals and then spread to humans.
A report issued by the United Nations Environment Program and the International Institute for Livestock Research indicated that zoonotic diseases do not jump for humans on their own, as transmission to humans comes due to damage to the natural environment through practices such as misuse of land and wildlife, depletion of natural resources, and climate change , Which changes the way animals interact with humans.
"The last century has seen the spread of new viruses from the Corona family six times," said Unger Anderson, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program.
She added: "Over the past two decades, before the advent of Covid 19, zoonotic diseases caused economic losses estimated at about one hundred billion dollars."
And she continued: "About two million people of low and middle income die every year because of zoonotic diseases, of which we do not care.
She noted that death for these reasons is often in societies with complex development problems, excessive dependence on livestock, and proximity to wildlife.
Meat production, for example, has grown by about 260% in the past 50 years, according to Anderson.
"Dams, irrigation and animal farms account for 25 percent of infectious diseases that affect humans. Climate change has also contributed to the spread of pathogens," she added.
The report, released in cooperation between the United Nations and the International Livestock Research Institute, provides government strategies to prevent the spread of disease in the future.
And Anderson said: "The opinion of science is clear on this matter. If wildlife continues to be used and our ecosystems destroyed, we expect to see a continuous flow of these diseases transmitted from animals to humans in the coming years."
In this context, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, in a statement to the American "National Public Radio": "To prevent future disease outbreaks, countries need to conserve wild habitats, promote sustainable agriculture, enhance food safety standards, and monitor and regulate food markets." , Investing in technology to identify risks and curb illegal trade in wildlife. "