"Human Transmission: The Leading Cause of Animal Viral Spread"

A new analysis of viral genomes reveals that humans pass on almost twice as many viruses to domestic and wild animals as we receive from them, posing a significant threat to other species. This is due to our large population size, global distribution, and behavior, which stress out the environment and make neighboring creatures more susceptible to viruses. The study also identifies features that could warn of a virus's ability to become zoonotic, emphasizing the importance of surveying and monitoring human-to-animal transmission of viruses for both human and animal health.