A study by University College London, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, upends the common belief of humans predominantly acquiring viruses from animals.

Research involving analysis of nearly 12 million viral genomes shows that human-to-animal virus transmission, or anthroponosis, occurs more frequently than animal-to-human transmission.

The findings underscore the necessity of bi-directional monitoring of virus transmission between humans and animals to prevent and understand emerging diseases.

The study indicates that viruses undergo significant genetic changes when jumping between species, which is a key factor in the emergence of new viral diseases.

Experts call for an interdisciplinary approach combining various scientific fields to better understand and mitigate the risks of viral host jumps to wildlife.