This is a “what if” interview from the World Economic Forum’s
Risk Response Network. To view the rest of the series, click
here. In a rapidly interconnected world, the dangers and threats
posed by virulent strains of terrifying infectious diseases has
only multiplied. On the watch for deadly pandemics is Nathan
Wolfe, acclaimed virus hunter and member of the 2011 class of
the TIME 100. Wolfe spoke to the World Economic Forum, in
collaboration with TIME, about future pandemics on the horizon.
What warning signs have you seen? All the greatest hits of
modern infectious diseases emerged from wild animals: HIV, SARS,
the pandemic influenza outbreaks, Ebola. Although in western
countries, most people buy their meat pre-butchered and shrink-
wrapped, there are still plenty of areas where humans have a
very high level of contact with animals. We have industrial-
sized farms and slaughterhouses, and there are still hunters
going after game all over the world, whether for vital protein
in central Africa or for sport in