Globally, the fragmentation of ecosystems and changing rainfall patterns are increasing the risk that diseases will spread from animals, mosquitoes, and ticks to humans, according to a new study co-led by a University College London researcher.
Habitat fragmentation can bring wildlife into closer contact with people, while shifting rainfall affects the habitats and life cycles of disease-carrying insects. These human-driven environmental changes appear to work together to make spillover events more likely, the study says.
The findings highlight a direct connection between human impacts on the environment and the risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks. As ecosystems continue to be fragmented and rainfall patterns shift, the study suggests, the threat of new infectious diseases in humans will remain elevated.