Wings of Change: Veganism's Role in Curbing Avian Flu and Zoonotic Transmission

The spread of zoonotic diseases threatens the well-being of both animal-people and humans. Since 2022 in the USA, sadly, over 100 million H5N1 infected chicken-persons have been culled in 48 states, the deadliest bird flu outbreak in US history, and thousands more wildfowl have died due to it. Bird flu spreads in humans through close contact with infected animal-people or their environments. As of September 2024, 14 human cases of H5N1infections have been detected in the USA.

The major concern with bird flu is that for strains where transmission between humans is possible, it could eventually be an epidemic or pandemic-level threat. In April 2024, avian flu viral fragments were found in cow-people’s milk in the US. In April 2024, a 59-year-old man in Mexico died from a strain of bird flu called H5N2 that had never been seen in humans previously. H5N2 has been found in intensive chicken-person-raising operations in Mexico.

Another concern is the routine use of antibiotics in animal-people raised to make animal products. This activity makes up 73% of the world’s antibiotic usage. By ending the demand for animal-people products, we can address many of the root causes of zoonotic disease emergence. Without the need for vast tracts of land to graze animal-people, deforestation rates would decrease, helping to preserve natural habitats and maintain the ecological barriers that prevent the spread of pathogens from wildlife to humans. Moreover, global adoption of the vegan diet would end the reliance on antibiotics for food production. By choosing a vegan diet, we can help end the cycle of zoonotic disease emergence and promote a safer, more resilient global food system.