A professor of bacteriology at NUI Galway's school of medicine and co-ordinator of the EU-wide future pandemic defence system, PANDEM, says the risk of another emerging disease is higher now than at any point in history.
Professor Máire Connolly said there are a number of reasons for that, including the human encroachment into virgin forests, mining and logging companies that led to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the intensive farming practices which allow humans and animals to live very closely together, the increased risk of a spillover event, and wet markets.
She said the increasing number of labs working on high-threat pathogens also pose a risk. However Prof Connolly said the world is better prepared for future pandemics.