The truth about bats and viruses
Students will answer questions about the Science News article “Why bat viruses are so dangerous,” which explores how the animals’ immune defenses might lead to killer human pathogens.
Educator Guide: Why Bat Viruses Are So Dangerous
A bat’s antiviral defenses let it safely carry viruses that can cause deadly outbreaks in other animals. One example is the Marburg virus, a close relative of Ebola that comes from Egyptian fruit bats (pictured), which causes severe bleeding and organ failure.
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About this guide
This guide will help students understand how viruses in other animals can infect people, sometimes leading to epidemics or pandemics. In a group activity, students will imagine they are health officials developing action plans to prevent or stop an epidemic.
This Guide Includes:
The path from outbreak to pandemic
Students will explore the definitions of outbreak, epidemic and pandemic and research how an outbreak becomes an epidemic or pandemic.
Collaborating to stop an epidemic
Students will imagine that they are officers at the World Health Organization and will work in groups to develop action plans to prevent the spread of a new virus, such as coronavirus.