B2 – Upper Intermediate
A new study found that 41% of traded wild mammals carry diseases transmissible to humans, compared to just 6.4% of non-traded species.
Read the article to know more about why experts warn that activities like hunting and transporting wildlife increase the chances of future pandemics and call for stricter global regulation.
https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/wildlife-trade-fuelling-spread-diseases-humans-study-finds
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “spillover” mean? “The global wildlife trade could be accelerating the spillover of diseases from animals to humans” Use it in a sentence.
- What does “multilateral agreement” mean? “Currently, the main multilateral agreement governing international trade in wild species, CITES, focuses primarily on preventing extinction.” Use it in a sentence.
- What does “disease emergence” mean? “To reduce disease emergence, these opportunities for encounters must be limited, and therefore the overall volume of trade.” Use it in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- Why do you think wildlife trade still continues despite the health risks?
- How can governments balance economic needs and public health when it comes to wildlife trade?
- Do you think pandemics caused by animals are preventable? Why or why not?
- How might wildlife trade affect not just health, but also the environment?
- Would you support stricter penalties for illegal wildlife trade? Why or why not?