How bad for humans is wildlife trade? A new study has answers

This pangolin was confiscated from a smuggling ring that sold endangered animals to restaurants in China. Animals caught up in the wildlife trade pose a great risk of spillover diseases.

People sell wild animals for food and for traditional medicine — legally and illegally. A study looks at the risks of spillover diseases from those pangolins, giant rats and other exotic critters.

(Image credit: Jimin Lai/AFP)