Economist Podcasts Bat out of elsewhere? Tracing SARS-CoV-2’s origins
Jul 27, 2020
Natasha Loader, health policy editor at The Economist with expertise on SARS-CoV-2 origins, joins Katrine Braik, the environment editor focusing on climate issues. They delve into the search for SARS-CoV-2's beginnings in Southeast Asia and discuss the crucial role of wildlife trade in public health. The conversation shifts to the alarming impacts of climate change, highlighting record Arctic temperatures and the rise in Siberian wildfires. They also touch on the disparity in travel freedom for African passport holders, sparking a discussion on 'passport shopping' for better mobility.
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Tracing the Virus
- To understand the virus's origins, researchers must trace it back to Wuhan by sampling and interviewing.
- Finding the source will allow for better surveillance and changes to human practices that contribute to virus spread.
Siberian Heatwave
- Verkhoyansk, Siberia, recorded 38°C, the hottest temperature ever recorded north of the Arctic Circle.
- This heatwave is directly linked to climate change.
Climate Change Link
- The World Weather Attribution Initiative uses computer models to link extreme weather to climate change.
- Their research shows the Siberian heatwave is 600 times more likely due to global warming.