Intensive animal farming poses significant health risks to humans. Virologists warn that the close living conditions between humans and animals create ideal conditions for the spread of viruses. Once animals and humans interact in densely populated areas, viruses can easily mutate and jump from animals to humans. A prominent example is avian influenza, which is currently causing concern worldwide.
In China, there is the world’s largest pig farm, which accommodates 1.2 million pigs. Virologists view such mega farms with suspicion, as they present a high risk for the emergence and spread of new virus variants. The close confinement and genetic homogeneity of the animals facilitate the rapid spread of diseases. This was already evident in previous pandemics. The deadly influenza pandemics of 1918, 1957, and 1968 were all transmitted from pigs to humans. These examples highlight the particular risk posed by pigs.
Another problem is the global meat production, which is constantly increasing. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (https://www.fao.org), production of 370.7 million tons is expected in 2024. With this mass of animals, the risk of zoonoses, diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans, also grows. A recent case is the H5N1 virus, which infected humans in Hong Kong and led to mass culling of poultry.
Epidemiologists therefore call for stricter controls and hygiene regulations. The World Health Organization has already taken steps to promote immediate reporting of outbreaks and to improve the exchange of scientific data. However, to sustainably reduce the pandemic risk, intensive animal farming must also be reconsidered. Smaller, more resilient stocks that are not bred for maximum production performance could help limit the spread of diseases and protect the health of both humans and animals. For more: https://www.zeit.de/2024/30/vogelgrippe-usa-massentierhaltung-virus-pandemie
Epidemiologists therefore call for stricter controls and hygiene regulations. The World Health Organization has already taken steps to promote immediate reporting of outbreaks and to improve the exchange of scientific data. However, to sustainably reduce the pandemic risk, intensive animal farming must also be reconsidered. Smaller, more resilient stocks that are not bred for maximum production performance could help limit the spread of diseases and protect the health of both humans and animals. For more: https://www.zeit.de/2024/30/vogelgrippe-usa-massentierhaltung-virus-pandemie
