Factory farms are manufacturing our modern diseases

KEY POINTS

–   As well as Covid-10, this century we’ve had a long list of diseases spilled over from animals. 

–  The number is increasing in recent years owing to population increase, global travel and trade, and also in the ways modern farming forces humans, animals and microbes together.

–   Scientists have demonstrated a link between intensive poultry production and the emergence of highly pathogenic forms of avian flu, and a link between intensified pork production and swine flu.

–   Infectious disease is not the only consequence of industrialised farming. Others include antimicrobial resistance and elevated greenhouse gas emissions.

–   To avoid pandemics in the world we need to take a long, hard look at our relationship with the natural world, and particularly with other animals.

–   We need to acknowledge that we are manufacturing our own diseases, start talking about our lifestyle choices and the industries that satisfy them.

–   The time to do that is now.

 

Read the Time article here