Skip to main content
College of Veterinary Medicine

A real life ‘Contagion’: Humans may be to blame for viruses jumping from animals to us

May 11, 2020

The risk of new viruses jumping from animals to humans was highest from threatened wild animals that have declined due to exploitation and habitat destruction. (From CNN)
The risk of new viruses jumping from animals to humans was highest from threatened wild animals that have declined due to exploitation and habitat destruction. (From CNN)

It could be a real-life “Contagion,” much like the movie.

As a deadly pandemic spreads across the globe, a timely new study has identified key drivers of “virus spillover” from mammals to humans.

“The lack of awareness in the society for climate change and the role of wildlife has multiplied this problem to many folds. The wildlife is at run due to lack of habitat and food, leading to an increase in human exposure to wild animals,” said Dr. Suresh Mittal, professor of virology at Purdue University, who was also not involved with the study.

Read the fully story at A real life ‘Contagion’: Humans may be to blame for viruses jumping from animals to us on CNN.com

Recent Stories

CPB faculty member receives research journal publication award

Dr. Christopher Rice, assistant professor of parasitology in Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology (CPB), has been honored as the recipient of the 2026 Jack L. Beal Award for a paper published in the Journal of Natural Products.  The journal, in partnership with the American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP) and American Chemical Society (ACS), announced in September the recipients of the Beal Award and two other research awards – the Arthur E. Schwarting Award and the A. Douglas Kinghorn Award for Best Perspective or Review. The awards recognize the best papers published each year in the Journal of Natural Products.

“Paws Up” for Craig Weiderhaft – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we want to give a big “high five” to Craig Weiderhaft who is a phone communications and front desk representative at the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital.

Dogs across the Midwest find customized care at the Evan and Sue Ann Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center

Studying canine cancer — including personalizing treatments, honing protocols and exploring new drugs, all of which will shed light on human cancer care — is the focus of veterinary researchers at a specialized center at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Faculty and staff contributions move Purdue Veterinary Medicine toward goal for Purdue United Way Campaign

With the 2026 Purdue United Way Campaign in full swing, Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty and staff participation is advancing the college toward its campaign support goal. At the halfway point of the campaign, figures show the college is nearly halfway to its goal of raising $20,000.

In Memory – Dr. Raymond E. Plue (PU DVM ’68)

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine community is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Raymond E. Plue, who was a generous, fun-loving, adventuresome and larger-than-life alumnus. Dr. Plue passed away Saturday, October 10, 2026, in Columbia, Missouri. He was 81.