News for Healthier Living
Like Humans, Some Primates Become Cautious of Germs in the Wake of a Viral Outbreak
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, many households wiped down groceries with disinfectant before putting them away. Hand sanitizer was in short supply. With little information on how the virus spread - people became more cautious of germs from other people. A new University of California San Diego study suggests that humans may not be alone in changing behavior after experiencing a disease threat.
Researchers found that macaque monkeys who had lived through a deadly disease outbreak became significantly more cautious about food that appeared contaminated, even though they did not know how the disease had spread. The findings suggest that pathogen-avoidance behavior can be shaped by experience, offering clues about the evolutionary roots of disgust.
October 21, 2026
November 1 2026October 30 2026October 29 2026October 28 2026October 27 2026October 26 2026October 25 2026October 24 2026October 23 2026October 22 2026October 21 2026October 20 2026October 19 2026
|
|
|
|
|