Ecological countermeasures to prevent pathogen spillover and subsequent pandemics

Raina K. Plowright (), Aliyu N. Ahmed, Tim Coulson, Thomas W. Crowther, Imran Ejotre, Christina L. Faust, Winifred F. Frick, Peter J. Hudson, Tigga Kingston, P. O. Nameer, M. Teague O’Mara, Alison J. Peel, Hugh Possingham, Orly Razgour, DeeAnn M. Reeder, Manuel Ruiz-Aravena, Nancy B. Simmons, Prashanth N. Srinivas, Gary M. Tabor, Iroro Tanshi, Ian G. Thompson, Abi T. Vanak, Neil M. Vora, Charley E. Willison and Annika T. H. Keeley
Additional contact information
Raina K. Plowright: Cornell University
Aliyu N. Ahmed: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Tim Coulson: University of Oxford
Thomas W. Crowther: ETH Zürich
Imran Ejotre: Muni University
Christina L. Faust: University of Glasgow
Winifred F. Frick: Bat Conservation International
Peter J. Hudson: Pennsylvania State University
Tigga Kingston: Texas Tech University
P. O. Nameer: Kerala Agricultural University
M. Teague O’Mara: Bat Conservation International
Alison J. Peel: Griffith University
Hugh Possingham: University of Queensland
Orly Razgour: University of Exeter
DeeAnn M. Reeder: Bucknell University
Manuel Ruiz-Aravena: Cornell University
Nancy B. Simmons: American Museum of Natural History
Prashanth N. Srinivas: Institute of Public Health
Gary M. Tabor: Center for Large Landscape Conservation
Iroro Tanshi: University of Washington
Ian G. Thompson: Australian Capital Territory
Abi T. Vanak: Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment
Neil M. Vora: Conservation International
Charley E. Willison: Cornell University
Annika T. H. Keeley: Center for Large Landscape Conservation

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Substantial global attention is focused on how to reduce the risk of future pandemics. Reducing this risk requires investment in prevention, preparedness, and response. Although preparedness and response have received significant focus, prevention, especially the prevention of zoonotic spillover, remains largely absent from global conversations. This oversight is due in part to the lack of a clear definition of prevention and lack of guidance on how to achieve it. To address this gap, we elucidate the mechanisms linking environmental change and zoonotic spillover using spillover of viruses from bats as a case study. We identify ecological interventions that can disrupt these spillover mechanisms and propose policy frameworks for their implementation. Recognizing that pandemics originate in ecological systems, we advocate for integrating ecological approaches alongside biomedical approaches in a comprehensive and balanced pandemic prevention strategy.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46151-9

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