What is Alaskapox? A microbiologist explains the recently discovered virus that just claimed its first fatality

Alaskapox was discovered in 2015 and has generally only caused mild illness – until now.

Raúl Rivas González, Catedrático de Microbiología. Miembro de la Sociedad Española de Microbiología., Universidad de Salamanca • conversation
Feb. 21, 2024 • ~7 min

Three ways to head off the next pandemic in the wild meat trade

Needed: less wild meat in cities, more wildlife experts in public health.

Julia E. Fa, Professor of Biodiversity and Human Development, Manchester Metropolitan University • conversation
Oct. 29, 2020 • ~6 min

Video: Slowing deforestation is the key to preventing the next pandemic – but what does that cost?

A new study estimates that $22 billion to $30 billion dollars per year needs to be spent to maintain forests and reduce the likelihood of a pathogen jumping from wildlife to humans.

Les Kaufman, Professor of Biology, Boston University, Boston University • conversation
July 27, 2020 • ~9 min

How deforestation helps deadly viruses jump from animals to humans

Yellow fever, malaria and Ebola all spilled over from animals to humans at the edges of tropical forests. The new coronavirus is the latest zoonosis.

Maria Anice Mureb Sallum, Professor of Epidemiology, Universidade de São Paulo • conversation
June 25, 2020 • ~11 min

A massive public health effort eradicated smallpox but scientists are still studying the deadly virus

The smallpox virus appears to have been with humanity for millennia before a global vaccination drive wiped it out. Current genome research suggests how smallpox spread and where it came from.

Patricia L. Foster, Professor Emerita of Biology, Indiana University • conversation
June 24, 2020 • ~12 min

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