Explained: Why healthy animals mean healthy humans, and how to meet that goal

As human populations expand, it results in greater contact with domestic and wild animals, providing more opportunities for diseases to pass from one to the other.

Not so long ago, the widespread prevalence of avian influenza in poultry, or bird flu as it commonly became known, created nationwide panic resulting in the culling of millions of poultry birds. It was concern for human health that prompted the extreme reaction and subsequent establishment of protocols; containment of avian influenza is managed quite effectively now. Similarly, in 2003, SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome emanated suddenly in China. This too vanished soon, but not before an emergency response that included extreme measures like travel bans and restrictions.