At Least 320,000 New Viruses Could Be Waiting In Animals

Revelation 6:7,8 NCV When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!"8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse. Its rider was named death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill people by war, by starvation, by disease, and by the wild animals of the earth.

A report published by the BBC World Service says that at least 320,000 new viruses could be carried by animals worldwide.

Researchers say studies into the viruses that potentially could transfer to humans is vital to stop a future outbreak similar to what has been seen with H7N9 and MERS.

Nearly 70% of viruses that infect humans, including HIV and Ebola, originated from animals.

Researchers in the U.S. and Bangladesh say they discovered at least 60 new viruses in a study of a bat called the “flying fox”. The bat carries the Nipah virus, which is fatal to humans if it makes the leap from animal to human.

“Obviously we cannot survey every animal on the planet but we can try and map as best as we can using a concept referred to as hot spots,” Professor Ian Lipkin of Columbia University told the BBC. “We look at area where we know, based on previous experience, there is a high likelihood new infectious agents will emerge or pose considerable threat to human health.”

The group is working to create what they call an “early warning system” designed to stop outbreaks before they can begin.

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