New research analyzing four decades of trade records confirms the global wildlife trade substantially elevates the risk of disease jumping from animals to humans. Scientists found that mammal species sold internationally—covering meat, fur, and pets—were 50 percent more likely to share pathogens capable of infecting people than non-traded species.

Researchers cataloged over 2,000 mammal species involved in this commerce, noting that prolonged exposure intensifies the danger. For every decade a species remained in trade between 1980 and 2019, it shared an additional pathogen. This exposure provides pathogens opportunities to adapt, potentially evolving into new human health threats.

Live animal markets appear to amplify these spillover events further, acting as evolutionary stepping-stones for viruses. Ecologists involved in the study assert that as long as species are traded, the exposure problem persists, pointing to inherent risk in the entire industry.

Experts suggest that while the illegal trade also poses dangers, the sheer volume of legal and illegal transactions creates the primary vector for zoonotic transfer. The study provides quantifiable evidence supporting long-held suspicions about human exploitation of wildlife increasing spillover risks.