# Host jumps need not be common just because spillover is

## TL;DR

A new study suggests that frequent spillover of pathogens does not necessarily mean they are more likely to cause pandemics.

## Contribution

The study challenges the assumption that high spillover frequency correlates with higher emergence risk.

## Key findings

- Pathogens that frequently spill over are not necessarily more likely to emerge as pandemic threats.
- Emergence risk depends on more than just the frequency of spillover events.

## Abstract

Can we predict which pathogen will be responsible for the next pandemic? Emergence risk is a hotly debated topic and a new study in PLOS Biology challenges the idea that pathogens that frequently spill over are more likely to emerge.

Can we predict which pathogen will be responsible for the next pandemic? Emergence risk is a hotly debated topic and a new study in PLOS Biology challenges the idea that pathogens that frequently spill over are more likely to emerge.