Insect and animal invasions can teach us about COVID-19

Invasions by alien insect and animal species have much in common with outbreaks of infectious diseases and could tell us a great deal about how pandemics spread, according to a research paper published. Biological invasions, where animals, insects, plants and microorganisms are transported around the globe by humans, are becoming more common and have a global annual cost of at least £118billion. An investigation by an international team of scientists, including the University of Leeds’ School of Biology, says the emergence of human diseases share many of the same challenges as species invasions and that studying them together could provide solutions. Co-author of the report, Dr. Alison M. Dunn, a Professor of Ecology in the School of Biology, said: “Integrated approaches that take into account the health of humans and that of animals, plants and the environment are urgently needed to prevent future pandemics and the spread of invasive species across the globe. “Cross-fertilization...