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From 2020-2024, more than 700 million people were infected with COVID-19 and more than seven million died. More than 200 zoonotic diseases are known to exist, and virtually all the epidemics and pandemics in the last century have been zoonotic. According to the World Economic Forum, zoonoses are responsible for approximately 2.5 billion cases of human illness and 2.7 million human deaths worldwide each year. “About 60% of all the human infectious diseases originate from animals, so they come from animals. And over the last few years of the newly emerging diseases, it's actually 75%.So, a lot of the pathogens which are out there are shared between animals and humans.” Perhaps one of the most debilitating zoonotic diseases of recent times has been HIV-AIDS. Scientists believe that the virus was probably passed to humans when people hunted these chimpanzees for meat and came into contact with infected blood.A recent report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) states that if we want to prevent future zoonotic pandemics, we must take quick action. “We were warned that the current pandemic was not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when.’ And it's a human failing that we predict but we do not prepare. So now we must become more proactive to avoid another pandemic. And we must address zoonotic diseases.” Experts say that the COVID-19 outbreak was highly predictable. They urge governments to invest in public health, farm sustainability, end over exploitation of wildlife and reduce climate change or risk the possibility of future pandemics.In his book, “Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching,” renowned US physician, Dr. Michael Greger says that animal-people livestock factories are a “perfect storm environment” for zoonotic diseases, adding “If you actually want to create global pandemics, then build factory farms.” He concludes that the only way to prevent future pandemics is through a worldwide shift to the vegan lifestyle.
