Janice R. Andrews
Whatever the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is certain that fatal illnesses can spread from animals to people. According to a recent study from New York University and Harvard Law School, not enough is being done to stop another animal-borne virus from starting the next major worldwide pandemic.
The Startling Results
The research, which looked at typical animal-human interactions in 15 nations, including the US, discovered many situations in which viruses could spread. Scholars contend that straightforward policy modifications might significantly lower the likelihood of such a disease crossover.
The report’s lead author, Ann Linder, stressed that preventing harm after a virus has already spread from animals to people has received too much attention. Pathogens can spread quickly and are quite small. “By the time you realize that there’s something going on, that outbreak may have metastasized past the point where it can be contained,” said Linder.
Preventive Policies Are Necessary
Linder, the associate director of research and policy at the Harvard Law School’s Animal Law & Policy Program, is an advocate for preventative policy and a change in perspective. “It is imperative that we refocus on preventive policies. We are not going to be investigating these outbreaks after the fact.”
The exotic pet trade, live animal markets, bat guano harvesting, guinea pig and ferret farming, coyote and fox urine production, roadside zoos, animal fighting, fur farming, and commercial farming are just a few of the potentially hazardous environments that the report names as weak spots in the United States alone.
A Worldwide Issue
Dr. W. Ian Lipkin, an epidemiology professor at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health who was not involved in the study, stated, “This is a global problem.” Lipkin has long advocated for strict safety regulations at scientific research labs and the closure of wet marketplaces such as the one in Wuhan, China.
The term “zoonotic diseases” is not new. Other instances include the monkeypox outbreak from last year, HIV/AIDS, and smallpox. Researchers think that because of changes in the climate, urbanization, and international travel, human-animal contacts are increasing and these diseases are becoming more widespread.
“There is a general understanding that the frequency of these interactions increases the risk of disease transmission,” said Suresh Kuchipudi, the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health’s chair in infectious diseases and microbiology.
Industry Reaction
The industries that Linder raised concern about are “poorly regulated or not regulated at all.” The risk of the U.S. mink industry to human health is one reason why it should be better regulated or outlawed.
But mink farmers don’t think so. Fur Commission USA’s executive director, Challis Hobbs, made the case that mink producers take great care to protect the health of their animals and the general population. He mentioned that early in the epidemic, American mink farmers contributed to the development and distribution of a vaccine that shielded mink from contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
“We continue to work closely with federal, state, and local agencies to take all necessary precautions to protect humans and wildlife and prevent the spread of diseases,” Hobbs stated.
Small Adjustments Can Have a Significant Impact
In order to investigate the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a virus similar to SARS that was discovered in 2012, Lipkin reported a research trip to Saudi Arabia. Although camels were thought to be the primary means of transmission for MERS, it was unclear how humans in large cities like Riyadh were contracting the disease in the absence of camels.
Lipkin found that cleaning meat using high-pressure hoses before shrink-wrapping it for sale greatly decreased the amount of viral material in two slaughterhouses. This small adjustment has a significant impact in stopping the spread of illness.
Policy Suggestions
The report suggests a number of policy adjustments for 15 different nations, including stronger public health protections for the livestock industry, laws that promote sustainable farming practices, and increased control and monitoring of animal markets and their supply chains.
Kuchipudi underlined the necessity of striking a balance between economy, food security, and human and animal health. Can we put an end to all animal testing? No. It’s inappropriate as well as not a solution,” he declared. Risks can be decreased, though, especially if people are aware of them and follow advised procedures including pasteurizing all milk products and washing their hands well after handling animals.
The Idea of One Health
The Mercy for Animals organization supports the idea of One Health, which acknowledges that safeguarding animal welfare is a prerequisite for safeguarding human health. A campaign against utilizing “downed pigs”—pigs that are too ill, injured, or frail to walk—in the food chain has been started by Mercy for Animals. The introduction of these pigs into the food chain puts human health at needless risk.
The possibility of pigs contracting the avian flu that is rife in dairy farms and poultry flocks worries public officials the most. As the 2009 swine flu epidemic shown, pigs can serve as influenza’s mixing vessels, allowing the virus to change from one that solely infects animals to one that can infect humans.
Veterinarian Dr. Walter Sanchez-Suarez of Mercy for Animals stated, “There is a ticking bomb knowing this (bird flu) virus is everywhere and they are providing the perfect conditions for this zoonotic spillover event to take place.”
The possibility of animal-to-human disease transmission persists in the shadow of the pandemic. Even though zoonotic disease threats are a global issue, the risk can be greatly decreased with a few easy policy reforms and greater public awareness. We may better defend ourselves against pandemics in the future by taking a preventive stance and understanding how human, animal, and environmental health are intertwined.
