Public Health and Animals

Zoonotic Disease and Animal Market Welfare

Live animal markets and wildlife trade create conditions that both harm animal welfare and increase the risk of zoonotic disease spillover to humans.

Key Facts

An estimated 75% of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals
Live animal markets stress animals through confinement with unfamiliar species
Stress-induced immunosuppression increases pathogen shedding
COVID-19 likely emerged from a live animal market context
Improved animal welfare in markets may reduce zoonotic disease risk

Welfare Considerations

The connection between animal welfare and zoonotic disease is not coincidental: the physiological stress of confinement, mixing species, poor sanitation, and slaughter weakens immune function and increases viral replication. Markets that prioritise rapid throughput over animal welfare create optimal conditions for pathogen emergence. Improving live animal market welfare is both an ethical imperative and a public health investment.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for improved live animal market standards globally
Oppose the wildlife trade except under strict conservation frameworks
Advocate for One Health approaches linking animal and human health policy
Support organisations working on humane livestock market infrastructure
Reduce consumption of wild-caught and intensively farmed animals