Stopping Pandemics Before They Start?

Each year, 3 million people die from zoonotic diseases, where infective organisms jump from animals to humans. Disease experts note that preventing future pandemics at source would cost only a small fraction of the damage caused by zoonoses (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/04/failure-to-prevent-pandemics-at-source-is-greatest-folly-say-scientists). Preventing the spillover of diseases to humans could cost the global economy circa $20bn/year. This is around 10% of the annual economic damage caused by zoonoses. It is only 5% of the economic value of the lives lost to these infections. The 20bn/year would be spent on:- 1. Global surveillence of viruses (and other disease agents?) in wildlife; 2. Better control of hunting and trade in wild animals and 3. Stopping the razing of forests. Numbers 2 and 3 would stop the destruction of nature, which brings humans and wildlife into close proximity. Proximity makes the creation of new zoonoses more likely. These changes would also benefit bioversity and improve the health of the planet. The disease experts regard it as an act of folly that global bodies (like the World Health Organisation) and governments only focus on the spread of viruses, once they have infected humans. Prevention, as they say, is better than a cure. Having said that, getting funding to put systems in place to predict and prevent pandemics would actually be a very difficult 'sell'. There would be no profits for Pharmceutical companies. It would also be difficult for governments to claim any kudos for something that didn't happen. Rich airlines, energy producers, retail, media and agriculture are unlikely to be happy to chip in, even to 'greenwash'.