U.S on brink of pandemic due to high-risk animal market
NEW YORK – A new study has warned of the risk of a pandemic in the U.S. due to high-risk human-animal contact.
The study, conducted by Harvard Law School and New York University says that there is a lack of a comprehensive strategy to address the dangers posed by the animal industry.
The research found that there are major regulatory gaps through which pathogens can be carried and spread.
“The report states, far from being a problem that only exists elsewhere, many high-risk interactions between humans and animals that happen routinely and customarily inside the U.S. could spark future pandemics,” said the law school on its website.
It also found that the large-scale use of animals also makes the U.S. vulnerable to zoonotic disease outbreaks.
The U.S. is the world’s largest importer of live wildlife, importing more than 220 million wild animals annually.
The report examined 36 different livestock industries, including fur farming, exotic pet trade, hunting and trapping, industrial animal agriculture, and backyard chicken farming.
It assessed the risks they pose if they cause a large-scale disease outbreak.
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