It takes a whole world to create a new virus, not just China | Laura Spinney

Viruses such as Covid-19 wouldn ’t emerge in food markets if it wasn’t for factory farming, globalised industry and rapid urbanisationLaura Spinney is the author of The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How it Changed the WorldWhen I get stressed, a patch of annoying red eczema appears on the inside of my upper right arm. The doctor gives me some cream to rub on it, but I also know that to stop it coming back I have to deal with the underlying problem.Too much information, you ’re thinking, but let me make the analogy. The reason we shouldn’t call the Sars-CoV-2 virus causing global misery the “Chinese virus” is the same reason I shouldn’t blame my eczema on my upper arm: there is clearly a superficial weakness there, but the real cause lies elsewhere.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Coronavirus outbreak Environment Farming Urbanisation Infectious diseases Science World news UK news Cities Food & drink industry Business Source Type: news