Like birds before a storm, the agribusiness industry is eerily quiet about the threat of bird flu. A recent study published in Nature Communications has highlighted the highly contagious nature of bird flu, with nine out of 10 pre-exposed birds in Asian live markets becoming infected with H9N2 within a day and becoming contagious within six hours.

Scientists are now concerned about the potential transmission of bird flu to pigs, which could increase the risk of human infection, given the disease’s high mortality rate of over 50%. Despite reassurances from health and agribusiness officials, the reality is that industrial animal agriculture serves as a breeding ground for diseases, bringing us closer to the next pandemic.

The study’s authors emphasize the brief latent period in chickens raised for meat, highlighting the high transmission rates and continuous supply of susceptible chickens in live markets as ideal conditions for avian influenza virus amplification. Inadequate sanitation and the constant influx of chickens into markets further exacerbate the risk of disease transmission.

The researchers stress the need for sustained veterinary public health interventions and preemptive vaccination to reduce virus circulation. However, the evolution and mutation of pathogens necessitate a holistic approach to disease prevention.

Regrettably, agribusiness has been slow to implement necessary measures to contain the spread of bird flu and other communicable diseases. In the United States, poultry and dairy industries have demonstrated a reactive rather than proactive response, with minimal efforts to address the looming crisis.

It is imperative for the agribusiness sector to prioritize proactive measures to combat the spread of bird flu and safeguard public health. Failure to act swiftly and decisively could have grave consequences for both animal and human populations.