Unveiling the Hidden Dangers: A comprehensive report exposes zoonotic disease threats in the US
A groundbreaking study conducted by Harvard Law School and New York University has shed light on the serious threat of future pandemics originating from animal industries within the United States. Shockingly, the study reveals that the U.S. government lacks a comprehensive strategy to address these alarming risks. The analysis strongly advocates for tightening existing regulations and implementing new measures to prevent zoonotic-driven outbreaks.
This pioneering report marks the first-ever comprehensive mapping of the networks involved in animal commerce, which significantly contribute to the risk of zoonotic diseases in the U.S. By examining 36 diverse animal industries, including fur-farming, the exotic pet trade, hunting and trapping, industrial animal agriculture, backyard chicken production, roadside zoos, and more, the study evaluates the potential of each sector to trigger large-scale disease outbreaks.
Contrary to popular belief, the report highlights that high-risk interactions between humans and animals routinely occur within the United States, presenting a real and imminent threat of future pandemics. Astonishingly, all the animal industries examined in the study are found to be considerably less regulated than necessary, leaving wide regulatory gaps that enable the spillover and spread of pathogens. As a result, the public remains constantly vulnerable to zoonotic diseases.
Ann Linder, one of the lead authors of the report and a research fellow with Harvard Law School's Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law & Policy Program, emphasizes the urgency of the situation. With more than 100 million Americans infected and over a million lives lost due to COVID-19, the next pandemic could be even more devastating and may strike sooner than expected. The risks at stake are simply too high to be ignored.
The immense scale of animal use in the United States amplifies its vulnerability to zoonotic outbreaks. For instance, the U.S. holds the dubious distinction of being the world's largest importer of live wildlife, with over 220 million wild animals brought in annually, often without proper health checks or disease testing. Moreover, the country ranks among the top producers of livestock, having processed an unprecedented number of over 10 billion livestock in 2022 alone. Shockingly, the on-farm production of livestock remains largely unregulated by the USDA, while inspections at slaughterhouses are cursory, with each inspector tasked with examining more than 600 animals per hour for signs of disease.
Of particular concern are pigs and poultry, carriers of influenza viruses that pose the highest risk of large-scale human pandemics. The ongoing avian influenza outbreak in the U.S., which has already claimed the lives of 58 million poultry since 2022, demonstrates the urgency of the situation. The virus has also infected several mammal species and a man in Colorado, potentially paving the way for rapid transmission through human populations. Notably, state and county fairs, which attract millions of visitors each year and feature pig exhibitions, have been the epicenter of multistate influenza outbreaks, further highlighting the inadequate regulation of animal fairs.
The individuals most vulnerable to zoonotic diseases in the U.S. are those who work closely with farmed animals. These jobs tend to be disproportionately filled by people of color and rural communities, often lacking access to reporting mechanisms and medical care. Studies estimate that workers in swine farms face a 30 times greater risk of zoonotic influenza infection than the general public. The 2009 "swine flu" pandemic alone hospitalized over 900,000 Americans, underscoring the severity of the issue.
Live animal markets, also known as "wet markets," where animals are stored alive and slaughtered onsite for customers, pose significant disease risks. New York City alone is home to at least 84 such markets. Disturbingly, a detailed study conducted in two live animal food markets in Minneapolis found high rates of influenza viruses not only within and on the animals but also in the air and on surfaces throughout the market. Startlingly, during the study, 65% of market workers tested positive for influenza, and even a 12-year-old customer fell ill after touching the railings of a pig pen and one of the animals.
Wildlife imports into the U.S. further amplify the risks. Hundreds of millions of live wild animals are imported annually, often without any scrutiny or examination. Information about their origins and destinations remains scant and incomplete. The U.S. exotic pet trade, valued at $15 billion, introduces high-risk species into American households, facilitating close human-animal interactions that serve as potential breeding grounds for zoonotic disease transmission. Surprisingly, many animals carrying zoonotic diseases are sold through legal channels, such as pet stores, without health checks or veterinary oversight. Additionally, exotic animal dealers often confine more than 25,000 wild animals together in a single facility, creating conditions that facilitate disease spread before shipping them nationwide. Disturbingly, outbreaks like the mpox outbreak traced back to one such facility have proven difficult to contain.
Even lesser-known animal industries within the U.S. pose serious risks to human health. Crocodile farms have been linked to the spread of West Nile Virus to humans, while mink in fur farms have transmitted COVID-19. Shockingly, numerous risk-generating industries remain loosely regulated or entirely unregulated. Policy changes often occur reactively, following outbreaks, rather than proactively addressing zoonotic risks. The report highlights the lack of basic data and proactive screening systems for animals, leaving the government ill-prepared to identify and mitigate zoonotic threats. In some cases, government action inadvertently exacerbates zoonotic risks, increasing human exposure to pathogens.
Dale Jamieson, Director of NYU's Center for Environmental and Animal Protection, stresses that while zoonotic risks cannot be completely eliminated, they can be managed and reduced to ensure the safety of everyone. The risks associated with live animal markets have been ignored or downplayed for far too long and demand immediate attention.
This U.S. report serves as a precursor to a broader global policy report by the same researchers from Harvard Law School's Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law & Policy Program and New York University's Center for Environmental and Animal Protection. The forthcoming comprehensive report, scheduled for release later this year, examines global policy responses to live animal markets in 15 countries and their role in transmitting zoonotic diseases. Its objective is to provide an in-depth assessment to guide global policymakers and raise public awareness regarding the dangers posed by zoonotic diseases.