Zoonotic disease outbreaks like COVID-19 and avian flu have profound welfare impacts on both farmed animals and wildlife. Prevention through welfare improvement reduces outbreak risk.
Mass culling of poultry and pigs during disease outbreaks causes immense welfare harm — hundreds of millions of animals killed, often with methods that cause prolonged suffering. Prevention through reduced stocking density, better biosecurity, and elimination of wildlife trade markets reduces outbreak risk while simultaneously improving welfare. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the direct link between animal welfare, biosecurity, and human health, creating a compelling case for integrated One Health approaches.