Since 1980 the human race has been plagued with approximately
three new contagious diseases every two years. This produces a significant
global threat, not only to health, but to the economy as well. Each one of
these has the potential of producing a pandemic of global proportions.
Of all these new threats, two-thirds of these new diseases
originate in birds and mammals. In response, ongoing research has focused on
early detection. For an example, the University of East Anglia conducted an
investigation of Vietnam’s poultry trade. The food production industry already
has a process in place known as the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points.
This process was considered by the research team as a potential series of steps
to address a rapid response of emerging outbreaks. They have identified key
points in the process which pose a high risk for the transmission of these
viruses in both the human and animal populations, as listed below:
- Anytime when the animals are mixed together as they’re being prepared for sale
- Transportation and sale of live animals and eggs
- Locations where purchase and slaughter is conducted
- Product preparation for consumption.
Careful observation and testing at each of these locations
would allow for an early response to an outbreak. Standardization of
procedures, and enforcement through regulation could create huge gains in
avoiding new infections.
Several items of common human behavior could defeat this
effort. Farmers might sell sick animals to avoid economic losses, overcrowd
cages to minimize space in both shipping and raising, other activities outside
of commercial traffic could circumvent these safeguards. An example of this is
the popularity of cock fighting in Asian countries. Anything that took the
animals outside of the four steps listed above could produce a situation with
the potential for outbreaks.
I believe that this is a very important element of
controlling commercial behavior to protect human health. Global standards
should be produced and enforced as edible products are shipped through many
channels in today’s world. If we could stop the infections from materializing,
we wouldn’t have to deal with the epidemics or even pandemics that could infect
thousands, or even millions of humans. This also has the possibility of making these practices
more humane.
Brittany, I completely agree that commercial agriculture needs a reformation. I believe that, as you said, enforced regulations would improve conditions not only for humans, but animals as well. Earlier this summer I blogged about a woman named Amy Meyer who was “charged with the crime of filming a slaughterhouse.” Meyer, like many other animal rights activists, was attempting to bring to light the inhumane practices that occur at the intensive, mechanized indoor factories where our food is processed. It is obvious that when sick cows are slaughtered and processed for beef as a routine practice, the threat of disease among humans/consumers increases. I think that when it comes to the health of the consumer and the animals, the accountability falls into the hands of the public to reform the issue, whether it is their responsibility or not, because the companies are only concerned with profitability. I also believe that an additional barrier in the way of solving this issue is Ag-Gag laws. I discussed them in my article, but they basically make it a crime for whistleblowers, journalists, and animal rights activists to expose videos and pictures of the abhorrent practices occurring in slaughterhouses and factories. I hope that with more public awareness consumers will take action and regulations and safeguards will be enforced. With greed and profitability set aside, just a few small precautions could keep humans safe from infections, epidemics, and pandemics.
ReplyDeleteLink to the article: http://www.thenation.com/article/175506/charged-crime-filming-slaughterhouse#