Zoonotic diseases pass between animals and humans. Animal welfare and disease prevention intersect in important ways — improving conditions for animals can reduce zoonotic spillover risk.
Poor animal welfare conditions are themselves risk factors for zoonotic disease. Crowded, stressed animals in factory farms shed more pathogens and are more susceptible to infection. Wild animal trade brings humans into contact with species whose viruses have not co-evolved with human immune systems. Reducing these risks through better animal welfare — more space, less stress, fewer wild animal trade pathways — creates benefits for both animals and humans.