Five years ago today, USFWS banned 201 species of #salamanders from entering the US to prevent a #chytrid extinction crisis (see here: https://www.fws.gov/injuriouswildlife/salamanders.html?fbclid=IwAR0VIh1ZXGYgx05ilZnN1x03dsK35TPzAVApe6eojajJcJqsE2K_V2TY4II) Unfortunately #frogs can also carry this pathogen & their door remains wide open: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/05/to-prevent-next-pandemic-focus-on-legal-wildlife-trade/ #WildlifeTrade

As a freelance #WildlifeTrade scientist, my work integrates #science & policy to help reduce potential harm trade may cause. The example above shows the dangers that occur when government laws & policies don't keep up with scientific progress (2/N) @NatGeo #nature #OneHealth

After @USFWS enacted the 2016 #WildlifeTrade restriction to help keep this deadly fungus out of the US, it was found that frogs can also carry this " #salamander" pathogen. Thus #frogs might be carrying 2 species of #chytrid into the US (see https://brill.com/view/journals/amre/38/4/article-p554_14.xml?language=en) #SciComm (3/N)

For example, millions of Fire-bellied Toads (Bombina orientalis) have been imported to the US in recent years without disease screening. Yet, they're a known potential vector of #salamander #chytrid. People often assume, "If it's legal, then it's ok" #WildlifeTrade #SciComm (4/N)

The problem is that if laws & policies to prevent #wildlife disease outbreaks aren't updated as new discoveries emerge, then disease events become much more likely to severely harm #animals, the #environment & #publichealth: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/05/to-prevent-next-pandemic-focus-on-legal-wildlife-trade/ #WildlifeTrade #OneHealth (5/N)