update: virus hunter//origins of malaria
update: dr. nathan wolfe, intrepid globe trotting virus hunter, who i photographed in cameroon for an article in men’s journal, and his organization global viral forecast initiative have just released their findings on the origins of malaria in a national academy of sciences paper.
turns out, the virus jumped to humans about 10,000 years ago and was originally found in chimpanzees (and not chickens as some argued — but apparently chicken malaria was a concern in wisconsin at one time??).
the economist has an interesting article laying out wolfe’s team’s findings and the benefits of understanding this fatally historic jump in today’s world.
to see more from my trip virus hunting in cameroon with dr. wolfe and the GVFI team check out my feature — virus hunter
