Zoonotic disease research involving animals raised significant welfare and ethics questions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 illustrated the intersection of animal welfare and zoonotic disease risk. Live animal markets and wildlife trade create conditions for spillover events that then require massive research programs using millions of animals. The pandemic simultaneously revealed the scale of animal use in infectious disease research, accelerated development of replacement methods out of necessity, and demonstrated catastrophic welfare costs of mink farming as a zoonotic reservoir. A truly integrated approach recognises that reducing wildlife trade and live animal market risks prevents future pandemics while improving animal welfare — aligning welfare and public health goals.