Did you know that wild boars in urban areas might carry a virus closely linked to human hepatitis E? A recent study conducted in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area sheds light on this pressing public health concern. Wild boars, increasingly common in city environments, were found to harbor the hepatitis E virus (HEV), specifically genotype 3 strains, which also infect humans in the region​. The research underscores the growing risk of zoonotic diseases—those transmitted between animals and humans—due to urban wildlife. Notably, the virus was detected in younger boars, suggesting potential hotspots for viral transmission as these animals thrive in urban spaces. This highlights the critical importance of managing urban wildlife to reduce the risks of disease spillovers. Such studies remind us that urban ecosystems are dynamic and complex, with interactions between wildlife and humans holding both ecological and health implications. Monitoring these interactions is not just about protecting biodiversity but also about safeguarding public health in our increasingly urbanized world.

More about our work here https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176871