Last week tonight with John Oliver aired its season premiere on Sunday and returned after it was last aired a few days after the presidential election. While much has happened since then – including the vaccination of the Covid-19 vaccination, the Wallestop roller coaster of Wall Street and the accusation of Donald Trump that resulted in an acquittal – for his main story he has the possibility of another discuss pandemic and how to avoid it.
“This is perhaps the most important time to talk about this, as scientists have been trying to warn us about the ‘next’ pandemic long before the current one, and we have not really listened,” he stressed, illustrating his point with a 60 minutes clip from 17 years ago that was broadcast shortly after the SARS epidemic was brought under control. In it, a scientist warned of his concern that a more deadly virus would arise ‘moving from one part of the planet to another and wiping people out as it moves’, adding:’ It’s something around you at night to keep awake. ”
As Oliver notes, the number of outbreaks of infectious diseases has “increased significantly since 1980”, including SARS, H1N1, Ebola, MERS, Zika and the current Covid-19 pandemic.
“The truth is that if we are not very careful, the next pandemic could be even worse,” Oliver said before playing a clip of a knowledgeable infectious disease that said there were viruses spreading in nature that 60 killing up to 70 people infecting them. and that the current Covid-19 virus “is by no means the worst that Mother Nature offers us.”
Oliver explained where specific infectious diseases come from, why they increase and what we can do to limit them. He noted that the current pandemic caused by the new coronavirus originated in animals before infecting humans, citing research that estimates that up to 75 percent of new or emerging infectious diseases spread in this way. He also cited research that estimates that there are currently 1.7 million undetected viruses in mammals and birds that can infect humans.
Although many species have been linked to infectious diseases, he notes that bats are one of the largest vectors. However, the solution is not to eliminate species that could disrupt the world’s ecosystem. He further discussed how deforestation, urbanization and mining contribute to eradicating the buffer between civilization and wildlife, increasing people’s chances of spreading disease by bringing exotic wildlife into their homes and lives, and the risks associated with some. ” wet markets, ‘Where animals from different places may be nearby in certain places, which can transmit diseases to people trading in the market. He noted that experts have also linked state and agricultural bursaries and factory farms as possible sources for multiple outbreaks of contagious illnesses.
“If you put it all together, it looks like we’re actively trying to start pandemics,” he said.
He acknowledged that the most effective way to reduce the threat of future pandemics was to eliminate and put an end to all the practices he outlined. “But it’s clearly not going to happen,” he said, adding. here. ”
“That does not mean we should not try to reduce harmful practices, because it is clear that we should do so,” he added. “Many health experts advocate for the so-called ‘one-health perspective’, where we realize that the health of people, animals and our environment are interconnected and take this into account when deciding on everything from environmental regulations to urban planning.”
He noted that smaller solutions can help limit outbreaks. Oliver pointed out that Thailand has been successful in preventing outbreaks via a phone app where farmers can submit ‘real-time’ abnormal health events’, as a video of the app in action explains, which could inform a broader public policy , ” Oliver said.
“There will be thousands of such little ideas that can ultimately make a real difference,” Oliver explained. He urged viewers not to be ‘complacent’ as the pandemic subsides.
“We must therefore, for the sake of future generations – and in all probability in a few years’ time – remember how we feel at the moment and invest accordingly,” he said. “Because the truth is that you never know where the next pandemic will come from. will not come. ‘