Humans have created ‘perfect storm’ for pandemics, expert warns

A researcher said there needs to be more genetic diversity in cows and other livestock (David Cheskin/PA)

The world’s vast population of people, pets and livestock, and the pressure we put on wildlife, have created the “perfect storm” for pandemics, a researcher has warned.

There is an urgent need to control the evolution and transmission of diseases such as the virus that causes Covid-19 by using vaccine passports, boosting the genetic variation in livestock and reducing how much meat we eat.