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Bird Flu Spreads Across British Columbia, Posing Wildlife and Human Pandemic Threat

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu (H5N1), has expanded its reach to impact birds of prey, skunks, and various mammals across British Columbia. Experts are issuing warnings regarding the potential consequences for wildlife and the possibility of a human pandemic. The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative is expressing specific concerns about the virus evolving for easier transmission to humans. While experimental immunization efforts target endangered species, the primary focus remains on implementing stringent measures to prevent interactions between farm animals and wildlife. In the last month, the virus has affected thirty-two poultry farms, resulting in extensive killing of farmed animals.

Article Links Pig Farming to Emergence and Transmission of Novel, Potentially Zoonotic Pathogens

Gemma G.R. Murray, et al., “The emergence and diversification of a zoonotic pathogen from within the microbiota of intensively farmed pigs” (2023) 120:47 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1.

Abstract: The expansion and intensification of livestock production is predicted to promote the emergence of pathogens. As pathogens sometimes jump between species, this can affect the health of humans as well as livestock. Here, we investigate how livestock microbiota can act as a source of these emerging pathogens through analysis of Streptococcus suis, a ubiquitous component of the respiratory microbiota of pigs that is also a major cause of disease on pig farms and an important zoonotic pathogen. Combining molecular dating, phylogeography, and comparative genomic analyses of a large collection of isolates, we find that several pathogenic lineages of S. suis emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries, during an early period of growth in pig farming. These lineages have since spread between countries and continents, mirroring trade in live pigs. They are distinguished by the presence of three genomic islands with putative roles in metabolism and cell adhesion, and an ongoing reduction in genome size, which may reflect their recent shift to a more pathogenic ecology. Reconstructions of the evolutionary histories of these islands reveal constraints on pathogen emergence that could inform control strategies, with pathogenic lineages consistently emerging from one subpopulation of S. suis and acquiring genes through horizontal transfer from other pathogenic lineages. These results shed light on the capacity of the microbiota to rapidly evolve to exploit changes in their host population and suggest that the impact of changes in farming on the pathogenicity and zoonotic potential of S. suis is yet to be fully realized.

Cigarette-Style Warning Labels on Food Could Reduce Meat Consumption, Study Says

A new study published in the journal Appetite suggests that graphic warning labels on food, similar to those used on tobacco products, could lead to a seven to ten percent decrease in meat selection. The study involved showing 1,001 meat-eating adults images of meals with health, climate, pandemic warnings, or no labels. Pandemic warnings were the most effective, reducing meat choices by ten percent, followed by health warnings at eight point eight percent, and climate warnings at seven point four percent. The researchers believe their findings could help encourage changes in consumer food choices that could ultimately benefit the environment.

Report on “Animal Markets and Zoonotic Disease in the United States” Receives Extensive Media Coverage

The “Animal Markets and Zoonotic Disease in the United States” report, published by the Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law & Policy Program at Harvard Law School in conjunction with the Center for Environmental and Animal Protection at New York University, has garnered widespread media attention from various outlets worldwide. Analyzing thirty-six animal industries, including exotic pet trade and backyard chicken production, the report assessed their potential risks for zoonotic disease outbreaks. The findings were prominently featured on the front page of The New York Times' ScienceTimes section and USA Today, warning of the staggering risks posed by US animal industries. Another aspect of the report was discussed in The New York Times' Science section, focusing on the possibility of a new pandemic originating at county fairs. The report features photographs by Canadian photo-journalist Jo-Anne McArthur. Brooks Animal Studies Academic Network (BASAN) collaborators from two Canadian universities, the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law and the University of Victoria’s Animals & Society Research Initiative, provided resources and research assistance funded by the Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law & Policy.

Report Reveals U.S. Animal Industries as High-Risk for Infectious Disease Outbreaks

A report by experts at Harvard Law School and New York University reveals that the United States’ animal industries, including industrial agriculture, fur farming, and the exotic pet trade, pose a significant risk of infectious disease outbreaks in humans. The nation lacks a comprehensive strategy to address these dangers, as many of these practices operate with little regulation. Zoonotic diseases, which spread from animals to humans, account for a majority of infectious diseases. The report challenges the notion that such risks are limited to foreign countries, emphasizing that Americans engage in high-risk practices, such as live bird markets and live animal markets. The findings call for increased regulation and public education to mitigate the risks.

COVID-19 Restrictions Caused Wildlife to Roam More Freely, Study Finds

A recent study published in the journal Science found that the COVID-19 pandemic caused an increase in wildlife movement globally. The research, conducted by 175 scientists, examined the impact of pandemic restrictions on animal behaviour using GPS tracking data from 2300 mammals of forty-three species. Comparing the findings from the spring of 2020 to the same period the previous year, the study revealed that animals traveled an average of seventy-three percent farther during migration, hunting, and foraging in the early stages of the pandemic. In densely populated regions, animals moved thirty-six percent closer to roads and relocated less frequently in shorter time spans. Lead author Marlee Tucker believes these findings are “optimistic” as they indicate animals are still able to alter their behaviour and perhaps small changes in human behaviour can reduce our impact on them.

Academic Article Argues Consideration of Animal Welfare in Aquaculture is Key to Reaching Sustainable Development Goals

Tessa Jane Gonzalez, “‘Positive’ animal welfare in aquaculture as a cardinal principle for sustainable development” (2023) 4 Frontiers Animal Science.

Summary: This article focuses on the interconnections between animal welfare, the environment, and sustainability. Using Atlantic Salmon, a widely farmed finfish, as an example, the author examines how advancements in animal welfare can contribute to addressing various global challenges such as food security, ecosystem resilience, carbon emissions, ocean pollution, overfishing, and threats to public health. The importance of the "One Health" framework in facilitating coordinated action is emphasized, with the suggestion that a systemic and effective altruistic approach within this model can help achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The article also highlights the negative consequences of intensive food production systems with inadequate animal welfare considerations, including health deficiencies, disease outbreaks, antibiotic resistance, ecosystem degradation, biodiversity impacts, and reduced resource efficiency. It emphasizes the need to improve animal welfare in farmed aquatic animals, which have often been overlooked compared to terrestrial species. The article concludes that a comprehensive development plan focusing on animal welfare in aquaculture is crucial for safeguarding humans, animals, and the environment at an international level.

National Farm Animal Care Council Decides Not to Update Livestock Transport Code of Practice

The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) has decided to halt the development of an updated national code of practice for livestock transport. In an information update, NFACC cited several factors that contributed to this decision, including significant amendments to federal regulations governing animal transportation, the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lack of a lead organization dedicated to livestock and poultry transport. The process, which began in 2018, was funded by the federal AgriAssurance program but did not finish before the program expired.

Report Details Devastating Impacts of Development Banks' Factory Farm Financing in Ecuador

A new report by the Ecuadorian Coordinator of Organizations for the Defense of Nature and the

Environment exposes the negative impacts of multilateral development banks' financing of factory farms in Ecuador, specifically focusing on the expansion of the country's largest pork and poultry producer. The report highlights social and ecological harm caused by the banks' failure to consult or compensate affected Indigenous communities, violating both Ecuadorian law and their own policies. The lending has led to pollution, destruction of ecosystems, and threats to local communities' health and livelihoods. Civil society groups are calling for an end to financing factory farming and urging the banks and the government to enforce policies and resolve the impacts of the operations.

Mapleton, Ontario Asked to Revisit Puppy Mill Bylaws

Donna Power, co-founder and president of Stop the Mills or the Humane Initiative, is urging Mapleton Council to review and strengthen its kennel bylaws to align with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association's code of practice for kennel operations. Power said: “Consumers are unknowingly buying from breeders and brokers that operate in an environment of no traceability, no accountability, and very minimal oversight or enforcement”. Many backyard breeders are dumping dogs after the collapse of the pandemic puppy boom.