Topic: Zoonosis

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau entered self-isolation after his wife, Sophie, tested positive for COVID-19, though he remained asymptomatic and was advised against testing. Science journalist David Quammen explains the nature of zoonotic diseases, noting that bats often serve as reservoir hosts for coronaviruses like SARS and MERS due to their diverse species and evolutionary traits.

Science journalist David Quammen and author Sonia Shah discussed the link between environmental crises and zoonotic diseases. They explained that bats serve as "reservoir hosts" for viruses like SARS, MERS, and the current coronavirus, often without showing symptoms themselves. As human activity like deforestation increases contact with wildlife, these microbes are more likely to "spill over" into human populations.