THE NEXT ANIMAL THAT WILL KILL US WITH A PANDEMIC

A new study tried to predict the animals most likely to launch the next deadly pandemic. Biologists at University of Liverpool designed a prediction model that looked for potential hosts of virus strains already known to exist. Their findings, published in Nature Communications on Tuesday, came up with likely vectors such as the civet, common hedgehog, European rabbit, dromedary camel, some primate species, domesticated pigs, along with the usual suspects: bats and pangolins (* but then, you knew pangolins were one of the usual suspects). Also, cats. They say these animals came up either because they are very closely related to a species known to carry a coronavirus, or simply because they live among humans. But, says the report, “This is not a reason to demonize these species.”
* No, there are plenty of other reasons to demonize cats.
* So, basically, every animal is a suspect. Except a dog. Who’s a good boy?!!
* I don’t know about you, but I don’t have any real solid plans to hang out with a dromedary camel anytime soon.
* That’s right. I’m sticking with the TWO-humped camels. They’re on OUR side.
* You just know the next pandemic will happen when a cat knocks a vial of virus off the lab table on purpose.
* Research studies should have this rule: No telling us bad stuff that could happen unless you’ve got suggestions about what we should do about it.