The recent PLoS Pathogens review emphasizes proactively preventing pathogen spillover from animals to humans as a strategy against future pandemics, advocating for a holistic One Health approach that considers the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and the environment. The study underscores the importance of primary prevention, differentiating it from secondary containment, and highlights the economic and societal benefits of preemptive actions over reactive responses.
By Vijay Kumar MalesuOct 10 2023Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc. In a recent review published in the journal PLoS Pathogens, a group of authors prioritized the primary prevention of pathogen spillover, integrated a One Health approach, and harnessed global initiatives and investments for a comprehensive strategy to avert future pandemics at their source.
Opinion: Prevention of zoonotic spillover: From relying on response to reducing the risk at source. Image Credit: Maximillian cabinet / Shutterstock Background The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic's global health toll has intensified discussions on better pandemic preparedness. A major cause of emerging infectious diseases is the zoonotic spillover from animals to humans, influenced by factors like deforestation and agricultural shifts. Despite the evident economic benefits of prevention, many strategies, like the World Bank Pandemic Fund, primarily emphasize reaction over proactive prevention.
For the purposes of this discussion, "prevention of spillover" is about hindering that initial and crucial step: halting pathogens from moving from animals to humans. Although our focus here is predominantly on human pandemic prevention, it is vital to acknowledge that human actions facilitating spillover between various species can also wreak havoc on wild and domesticated animal populations.
A holistic approach to combating spillover can be established by addressing its driving factors through the One Health strategy, which centers on the human-animal-environment nexus. This strategy aims to minimize zoonotic pathogen risks to humans and might incorporate interventions like vaccinations. To provide clarity on priorities for halting future epidemics that could culminate in pandemics, we suggest a definition of prevention concentrated on avoiding zoonotic spillover.
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