Dr. Neil Vora is no stranger to dangerous diseases, as a former epidemic intelligence service officer with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vora has deployed to nations like Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to combat outbreaks of the deadly Ebola virus, and is an ardent supporter of investing in public health responses.
Yet he much prefers that global leaders prioritize preventing outbreaks before they occur instead of rushing to respond to them. The best way to do this, he says, is by investing in protecting nature. He joins the Mongabay Newscast to share his knowledge of why “spillover” of zoonotic diseases — when a pathogen jumps from wildlife to humans — increasingly occurs due to deforestation and land-use change.
“All too often, when we wait for these outbreaks to happen, and we have to respond with vaccines and medicines, the people who are in greatest need have least amount of access to those vaccines and medicines. Whereas when you prevent the outbreak from happening at all, everyone benefits everywhere, particularly the people who are most marginalized,” Vora says.
He also says that despite science’s importance in studying and combating viruses, art and philosophy are necessary — and perhaps underutilized — tools to drive the global change needed to prevent further outbreaks.
“If we want to see societal transformation, we’re going to need people feeling inspired, and that’s where art and philosophy come in,” Vora says.
He expands on Indigenous author and scholar Robin Wall Kimmerer’s statements regarding Indigenous science, which incorporates values with knowledge. Vora says scientists shouldn’t shy away from this.
“I think we need to do a better job in supporting art and philosophy and storytelling around the world. Scientists also need to engage in this. Oftentimes scientists are encouraged just to stick to the facts and not to give value judgments. But there is a role for scientists and for scientists to engage in art and philosophy in helping to inspire people, inspire creativity.”
Today, Vora is executive director of the Preventing Pandemics at the Source Coalition, a co-chair of the Lancet Commission on Prevention of Viral Spillover, and director of One Health at Conservation International. This busy scientist says he’s upbeat about the future, despite the challenges the planet faces today.
“I’ve never felt more hopeful for the world. I see people who are dedicating their lives, working every day towards solutions. There are so many amazing solutions around us,” he says.
Subscribe to or follow the Mongabay Newscast wherever you listen to podcasts, from Apple to Spotify, and you can also listen to all episodes here on the Mongabay website, or download our free app for Apple and Android devices to gain instant access to our latest episodes and all of our previous ones.
Banner image: Rainforest in Boven Digoel. Image by Ulet Ifansasti for Greenpeace.
Mike DiGirolamo is a host & associate producer for Mongabay based in Sydney. He co-hosts and edits the Mongabay Newscast. Find him on LinkedIn, Bluesky and Instagram.
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This post was previously published on Mongabay with a Creative Commons License.
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The post How Nature Protection and Inspiring Art Are Key To Planetary Health & Preventing Pandemics appeared first on The Good Men Project.