As night falls in Mexico's Yucatan jungle, veterinarian Omar Garcia extracts blood and fluids from a bat as part of an investigation aimed at preventing the next potential pandemic. The goal of the project is to detect diseases -- known as zoonoses -- transmitted from animals to humans. Mexico is just one of 22 countries included in the 'Preventing Zoonotic Disease Emergency' initiative launched in 2022. As well as disease detection, the project also speaks to communities in areas at risk, like the Yucatan peninsula, where deforestation has brought humans into closer proximity with wild and disease-bearing animals.

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