The article explores the evolutionary drivers and correlates of viral host jumps, using a comprehensive analysis of publicly available viral genomic data. It reveals that humans are not only recipients but also sources of viral spillover events, with more viral host jumps from humans to other animals than from animals to humans. Viral lineages involved in host jumps show heightened evolution, with the extent of adaptation being lower for viruses with broader host ranges. The genomic targets of natural selection associated with host jumps vary across viral families, with structural or auxiliary genes being the primary targets. The study highlights the importance of understanding these evolutionary mechanisms to mitigate viral threats across species boundaries. The research emphasizes the need for better approaches to predict and manage emerging viral infectious diseases. It points out that current ecological and phenotypic analyses lack integration of genomics, which is crucial for understanding the drivers of viral host jumps. The study also notes that the majority of viral genomic data is concentrated in humans, with limited representation of non-human vertebrates, leading to an incomplete picture of global viral diversity. The findings indicate that anthroponomic (human-to-animal) spillover events are more frequent than zoonotic (animal-to-human) events, challenging the traditional focus on zoonoses. The study further shows that multihost viruses require fewer adaptations for host jumps, suggesting that viruses with broader host ranges may have evolved to target more conserved host machinery, reducing the mutational barrier for new host infections. The research also highlights the gene and family-specific nature of host jump adaptations, with structural and auxiliary genes being more likely targets of selection. The study underscores the importance of genomic surveillance and the need for more comprehensive and unbiased data collection to better understand viral host jumps and their implications for human and animal health. The results suggest that the global viral-sharing network is vast and complex, with humans playing a significant role in viral exchange, emphasizing the need for broader surveillance and monitoring of human-to-animal transmission.The article explores the evolutionary drivers and correlates of viral host jumps, using a comprehensive analysis of publicly available viral genomic data. It reveals that humans are not only recipients but also sources of viral spillover events, with more viral host jumps from humans to other animals than from animals to humans. Viral lineages involved in host jumps show heightened evolution, with the extent of adaptation being lower for viruses with broader host ranges. The genomic targets of natural selection associated with host jumps vary across viral families, with structural or auxiliary genes being the primary targets. The study highlights the importance of understanding these evolutionary mechanisms to mitigate viral threats across species boundaries. The research emphasizes the need for better approaches to predict and manage emerging viral infectious diseases. It points out that current ecological and phenotypic analyses lack integration of genomics, which is crucial for understanding the drivers of viral host jumps. The study also notes that the majority of viral genomic data is concentrated in humans, with limited representation of non-human vertebrates, leading to an incomplete picture of global viral diversity. The findings indicate that anthroponomic (human-to-animal) spillover events are more frequent than zoonotic (animal-to-human) events, challenging the traditional focus on zoonoses. The study further shows that multihost viruses require fewer adaptations for host jumps, suggesting that viruses with broader host ranges may have evolved to target more conserved host machinery, reducing the mutational barrier for new host infections. The research also highlights the gene and family-specific nature of host jump adaptations, with structural and auxiliary genes being more likely targets of selection. The study underscores the importance of genomic surveillance and the need for more comprehensive and unbiased data collection to better understand viral host jumps and their implications for human and animal health. The results suggest that the global viral-sharing network is vast and complex, with humans playing a significant role in viral exchange, emphasizing the need for broader surveillance and monitoring of human-to-animal transmission.