In response to an article citing farms, not wet markets, as the next pandemic threat Emily Wilson, FOUR PAWS UK Head of Campaigns says: 

 

"Three quarters of emerging human infectious diseases come from animals. Whilst COVID-19 shone a light on how the exploitation of animals can detrimentally impact human health, few have realised that the threat of future pandemics could be closer to home than they dare think. 

 

Factory farms are not just examples of cruel keeping for animals, they are also breeding grounds for modern-day outbreaks. The suffering and cruelty animals in these systems endure mean their immune systems are weakened, creating the perfect conditions for diseases to spread between animals. This is especially the case in factory farming systems where animals lack genetic diversity, healthy species-appropriate living conditions, or space and unnatural keeping conditions. These factors dramatically increase the risk of the spread of diseases. When humans are added to the mix, this can have deadly consequences as like with COVID-19 some pathogens develop the ability to jump into other species. 

 

It is no longer a case of if the next virus will emerge from intensive farming, but when. Right now in Norfolk, a planning application is under review for a facility that if green-lit would see 6.7 million chickens and 48,000 pigs killed every year. By recognising that human and animal welfare are intrinsically connected and embracing the One Welfare Framework across a wide range of policies, we can help prevent the next pandemic and tackle the most pressing global problems. To put it simply, when animals suffer, we suffer.”