UN scientists decry spread of zoonotic diseases

UN scientists on Monday expressed concern over rising zoonotic diseases that are passed from animals to humans which they said is causing panic amongst scientists.

UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) Chief Scientist Jacqueline Mcglade said the surge in diseases is closely related to the encroachment by humans on natural habitats hence enabling the pathogens in wildlife reservoirs to spread more easily to livestock and humans.

"Ebola, bird flu, Middle East respiratory syndrome, Rift Valley fever and Zika virus disease are a big problem today and urgent safety measures must be put in place," Mcglade told a media briefing on the sidelines of the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) underway in Nairobi.

She said that 1,200 scientists who published the sixth Global Environmental Outlook report are in shock at their findings.

Mcglade said that it is now the governments that have to put in place policies that could help in addressing the root cause of the disease that has killed many people in the recent past.

She observed that poor sanitation, poverty and lack of access to food also have to be confronted head on as they speed up human deaths in many countries.

"Having zoonotic pathogens present amongst us is like sitting on a time bomb and we need to start doing things differently to help end them and keep people alive," Mcglade added.

The scientist said that even though air pollution kills 7 million people every year, it was unfortunate that some countries still do not have policies in place to help manage the menace.

Mcglade said that governments need to put in place stringent policies like they did with lead so that these unnecessary deaths could stop.

"The lack of access to clean water and sanitation, which results in 842,000 people dying from diarrheal diseases every year also calls for serious interventions," she added.

She attributed the problem to climate change effects that she said has profound consequences for ecosystems, people, assets and economies.

Mcglade revealed that Africa and Latin America relies on a vibrant financial sector to grow but unfortunately the secret is not helping enhancing economic growth.

"There is need for Africa to diversify from mining, a traditional activity that damages the environment yet it is not befitting the communities," she noted. Endit