How Does Habitat Destruction Influence Disease Spread?
Habitat destruction, such as deforestation, forces wildlife closer to human populations, increasing the likelihood of zoonotic diseases—diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans. For instance, the destruction of rainforests has been linked to outbreaks of Ebola and other viral hemorrhagic fevers. Conservation efforts aimed at preserving natural habitats can reduce these risks by maintaining natural barriers between wildlife and human communities.
