Overview
- The peer-reviewed Science paper published Thursday finds 41% of 2,079 traded mammal species share at least one pathogen with humans, compared with 6.4% of non-traded species.
- The analysis estimates one additional human-shared pathogen for every 10 years a species remains in trade.
- The study identifies exposure points across the trade chain, including harvesting, transport, retail, consumption, and keeping animals as pets.
- Experts call for tighter trade controls and stronger disease surveillance, noting higher risk when animals are sold live.
- The authors detail major data gaps, including poor tracking of local and illegal markets and a lack of datasets that test pathogens in the same animals recorded in trade.