How do pandemics usually start? Are most of them caused by animals?
How do pandemics usually start? Are most of them caused by animals?
user
So yes, some pandemics are caused by animals.  One famous example is the bubonic plague, which was caused by rats.  There are also other examples of animal-to-human pathogens like viruses, parasites, and bacteria.  For example, the Zika virus is a virus that is typically spread by mosquitoes and which causes birth defects when passed on to unborn children, like microcephaly.
assistant
Can you give me some examples of pandemics that started without animals?
user
Pandemics that didn’t start with animals are very rare, because of how most disease-causing organisms get transmitted to people, which is typically by moving between human populations.  However, there are some human-to-human diseases.  For example, the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, is an example of a human-to-human disease.  Most common human diseases, like influenza and malaria, are also transmitted from human to human.
assistant
I see. What was the 1918 flu pandemic caused by?
user