Communities

Humans are intricately connected to the lives of factory-farmed animals, especially during times of sickness and wellness.

The current outbreak of H5N1, a panzootic affecting wild bird populations and spreading to other mammalian species, including dairy cows in the US, has led to mass culls of poultry birds worldwide.

While industry and government often blame wild birds for spreading avian flu, research suggests that the intensive system’s 20 billion chickens are now sources of disease themselves.

Global focus on wet markets, wild animal trade, and bushmeat consumption as sources of zoonotic disease overlooks the risks posed by intensive animal production systems.

Pressure

The Pandemic Agreement lacks concrete preventive measures, emphasizing surveillance systems, community involvement, and collaboration while overlooking the role of intensive animal production systems in disease emergence.

H5N1 continues to pose a significant threat to global public health, highlighting the need for proactive measures in the poultry industry.

The response to H5N1 has been slow, with regulatory actions delayed until public health experts’ pressure forced action.

Political

Historically, economic interests have driven regulatory responses, as seen during the mad cow disease outbreak when infected cows entered the human food chain due to cost-saving practices.

The practice of feeding poultry litter to dairy herds in the US, banned in the UK, may have facilitated the spread of H5N1.

The global livestock market’s value underscores the political and economic power wielded by the industry.

Threats

The concentration of power in the food industry, with a few conglomerates controlling a significant portion of sales, raises concerns about transparency and regulatory accountability.

Preventing a new pandemic catastrophe requires ending inhumane practices in animal agriculture, such as confinement and live transport.

This Author

Esme Wheeler, a global policy and advocacy advisor at Brooke, Action for Working Horses and Donkeys, advocates for sustainable and evidence-based policies to address the urgent threats to human health.