US Livestock and Pet Industries Pose Disease Threat
US Livestock and Pet Industries Pose Disease Threat
The High-Risk Practices of the American Animal Industry: A Wake-Up Call for Public Health
The American animal industry mirrors the high-risk practices observed in other countries when it comes to keeping and selling commercial animals that have the potential to trigger disease outbreaks among humans. A report by researchers from Harvard Law School and New York University (NYU) is shedding light on the significant risks associated with zoonotic diseases in animal industries, urging the United States to address these dangers before they cause further harm.
The extent of the risk is directly proportional to our use of animals, which is staggering in scope. The report’s author, Ann Linder, a research fellow at Harvard’s animal law and policy program, recently told The New York Times, “The risk is staggering because our use of animals is staggering. And we don’t even really understand where that risk is.” This lack of comprehension indicates a lack of comprehensive strategy to mitigate these dangers and a startling absence of regulation.
The notion that spillover diseases are exclusive to foreign countries should be debunked. Dr. Suresh Kuchipudi from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health asserts that the risk of disease transmission is not confined to a particular geography or cultural practice. Such transmission can occur wherever there are frequent interactions between wild or domestic animals and humans.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought this issue to the forefront, highlighting the urgent need for action. The origins of the virus remain uncertain, but what is known is that approximately 60% of infectious diseases are zoonotic, meaning they originate in animals. This statistic rises to 75% for new and emerging infectious diseases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To conduct this ongoing international study, researchers embarked on an analysis of 36 animal markets in the United States. Their research included interviews with experts, a review of publicly available data, government regulations, and scientific papers. The markets examined ranged from dog breeding and hunting to petting zoos and livestock auctions. The researchers considered factors such as the number of animals involved, the known pathogens they carry, interactions with humans, and biosecurity practices.
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The findings of the study left the researchers astounded. Among the revelations was the fact that the United States produces over 10 billion land animals annually for food consumption. Additionally, Americans are responsible for the breeding of more pigs and poultry than almost any other country, and these particular animals are known carriers of influenza.
Moreover, the United States is the primary importer of livestock and wild animals, acquiring over 220 million live wild animals every year. The report also identified over 130 live bird markets in the Northeast alone. Multiple outbreaks of highly pathogenic bird flu have already occurred at these markets, and swine flu has been transmitted to humans at Minnesota markets.
Unfortunately, government regulation in this domain is inconsistent, full of loopholes, and heavily focused on conservation regulations rather than disease prevention. Ann Linder emphasizes that there are gaps in available data and further research is needed to fully understand the gravity of the threats we face.
The revelations documented in this report should serve as a wake-up call for society. The dangers posed by the high-risk practices of the American animal industry are real and demand immediate attention. Linder aptly states, “These threats are out there, whether we turn on the lights and face them or just continue taking comfort in the dark.”
Sources:
The New York Times, July 6, 2023
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