Explainer

Explained: How do viruses move from animals into humans?

Bats, pigs, and pangolins – oh my! The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the consequences of viral spillover from animals, but it is not the first time in history that an animal virus has spurred disease in humans.

From the bubonic plague to the COVID-19 pandemic, humans are vulnerable to a host of invaders that can jump ship from their original host species. Viruses do so by either acquiring new mutations or swapping genetic material with another virus, which enables them to enter human cells, evade immune surveillance, and cause an infection. With rapid globalization and habitat loss forcing closer human-wildlife interactions, understanding zoonic viral transfer is increasingly pertinent.

Explore this Explainer Article from Drug Discovery News to learn how viruses are transmitted from one species to another.

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