Nature and Covid-19

What makes a virus jump from one host species to another? Obviously, it must be for its survival. What makes a poor man go into the forest and cut down a tree? Obviously for his survival? What makes a rich man start a timber factory? Obviously not for his survival but for the growth of his business, which may be essential for the survival of his business. Both these human activities would cause damage to the ecosystem, and may deprive a virus of its natural host and make it undergo mutation and by a process of natural selection pick a new host which could be a human. The virus may or may not be pathogenic to the new host. The other important factor in this story is that the poor man may have been deprived of his livelihood by the economic system that has the inherent effect of causing inequality and made him resort to illicit felling.

Some may say that the above argument may be far-fetched, but the facts and figures support the theory that nature, economic stability and health are interconnected. In fact, nature provides a buffer between humans and infectious disease. Emerging infectious diseases are often the result of encroachment into natural ecosystems and changes in human activity. Ebola for instance is linked to deforestation, and so are new types of malaria. A recent study conducted by The School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Science at Stanford University, has shown that deforestation in Uganda has caused an increase in animal-to-human diseases. An analysis of 6,800 ecological communities in six continents, carried out by researchers from University College London and published in Nature journal on 5th August 2020, adds to the growing body of evidence on the link between biodiversity loss and emerging infectious diseases.

Biodiversity loss could occur due to ecological damage caused by human activity. This means extinction of species. When there is extinction of species, few species replace many, e. g. rats, bats, and these species tend to be the ones hosting pathogens. Human invasion into natural habitats of these animals would also increase the occurrence of contact between these animals and humans. This gives the viruses harboured in these animals the opportunity to undergo a process of natural selection, and produce a type of virus that could live in the human cells and cause disease.

Mutations are caused due to errors in the replication process of the genome structure. Most life forms have proofreading mechanisms that correct these errors. RNA viruses do not have this mechanism while DNA ones have it. This is why RNA viruses mutate faster than DNA, ones and they could undergo natural selection also at a faster pace. Therefore, we could anticipate pandemics due to RNA viruses more frequently. SARS-CoV was detected in China in 2003 and since then there have been two others — MERS-CoV in 2012 and SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019, that is at intervals of 7 – 8 years. Prediction of the genome structure of future Corona viruses is difficult and therefore advance preparation of vaccines may not be possible.

It has been found that 70% of emerging infectious diseases originate from wildlife. There has been a loss of 60% of wildlife in the last 50 years and new infections have quadrupled during that period.

Usually, it is the big businesses that cause ecosystem damage. Poor people also in their search for resources for survival may cause similar damage. But they have no choice. Poverty and inequality are the result of big business. The World Inequality Report (Paris 28th June 2018) reveals that the richest 10% own 40 – 50% of the wealth of a country, while the lowest 10% own less than 1%. This sad state of affairs is not changing. Sixteen of the billionaires in the US have doubled their wealth during the COVID-19 period. The rich are getting richer at the expense of the poor, and also the natural resources which belong to everybody. Natural resources may be irreparably damaged causing a rise in animal-to-human diseases. And when that happens the rich are not spared. Trumps, Johnsons, Truedos and even Charles have had a foretaste of what could come with more devastation in the future, unless remedial action is taken quickly.

Finding a vaccine or a drug for COVID-19 will take a long time. It may not be possible to make vaccines against possible future Corona viruses. Virulent viruses trouble us regularly, and the next pandemic is only a matter of time. SARS viruses have proved to be elusive with regard to development of vaccines and drugs, and elimination of their root cause may well be the answer. If the cause is linked to the environmental and ecosystem damage that issue has to be addressed. The present global economic model which stimulates growth at the expense of Nature may have to be changed.

That means there is no need for the developed countries to chase their development goals further, which would be at the expense of the poor countries, poor people in their own countries and the natural resources. There is no need to build more weapons, more ships, more planes, more vehicles because there are enough of them. There is no need to build more factories as there are enough of them as well. Instead of quantity, rich countries could focus on the quality of the existing industries and services and find employment for the growing population, which at present is at manageable level, within that framework. Further, fossil fuel consumption must be reduced to levels recommended in the Paris Agreement.

Decisions as regards these issues may have a bearing on the prevention of pandemics of the future. These decisions will determine the future health, well-being and stability of people and the planet. However, at present the focus seems to be on finding a method to beat the virus so that it will be business as usual. This option has to be avoided. Science must not work against nature but must attempt to help man coexist with it.

N.A.de S. AMARATUNGA