The rate at which zoonotic diseases are appearing is accelerating. This rapid increase is due to the changing way humankind interfaces with the natural world. Zoonotic diseases are more likely to emerge when humans and domestic and wild animals come into close contact through deforestation, intensive animal farming, and trade (both legal and illegal) in wildlife.

The link between the COVID-19 pandemic (caused by the novel SARS-CoV2 virus) and the wildlife markets in Wuhan, China has been established.  Researchers and health authorities have been definitive in their statements linking the origins of the virus to markets where live terrestrial and marine wildlife is transported, confined in cramped cages, and often slaughtered in front of paying customers. Behind the extremely inhumane and unsanitary conditions, wildlife of mixed species are co-mingled in tight spaces within markets overcrowded with human consumers.

We exposed some of these markets in our film, Racing Extinction.  These markets are shocking and difficult to witness—and the impact to wildlife populations and animal suffering is even more devastating.
 
The only real solution to avert the next zoonotic catastrophe is to keep wildlife in the wild where it belongs and change our relationship with nature. We can do this by protecting and expanding natural habitats, reducing demand for wildlife products, ending the commercial trade in wildlife, and reforming industrialized animal agriculture.

The only real solution to avert the next zoonotic catastrophe is to keep wildlife in the wild where it belongs and change our relationship with nature. We can do this by protecting and expanding natural habitats, reducing demand for wildlife products, ending the commercial trade in wildlife, and reforming industrialized animal agriculture.

Endpandemics Alliance. As founding members of the Endpandemics Alliance, OPS is targeting the root causes of zoonotic disease, like Covid-19. Protecting nature is the best way to prevent the next pandemic. and vaccines are neither prevention, nor a cure, against emerging infectious diseases and future pandemics.

Approximately two-thirds of known infectious diseases in humans and 75% of all emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. This is not a new phenomenon: rabies, bird and swine flu, Ebola, SARS and hundreds of other deadly plagues are zoonotic diseases that spread between people and animals.
 
We are also working with the U.S. Wildlife and Health Alliance to raise awareness to the connections between the wildlife trade and zoonotic disease transmission. The health of humanity depends on the health of the planet and the health of other species. If we give nature a chance, she will be our greatest ally in building a greener and safer world.

Legislation. In addition to our global partnerships aimed at addressing the root causes of pandemics, including deforestation, intensive animal agriculture, and commercial wildlife trade, we are supporting key legislation to prohibit the commercial wildlife trade and live animal markets at the federal, state, and local level.

For example, The Preventing Future Pandemics Act would take several important steps toward reducing the risk of future zoonotic pandemics, including the closing of U.S. borders and markets to the import, export, and sale of live wildlife for human consumption. It will also provide resources for agencies to enhance enforcement and build consensus with other nations working to shut down live wildlife markets and trade in wildlife worldwide.

What you can do!

Consider these everyday actions that you can take to prevent the next pandemic.

Learn more about the commercial wildlife trade and its connection to zoonotic disease.

Share the Endpandemics Alliance solutions roadmap with your elected officials.

Encourage your congress and assembly members to support key wildlife trade and pandemic-related legislation to protect future generations.

Take the OPS Veg Pledge.  Some of the world’s deadliest disease outbreaks have been tied to industrial animal agriculture. Adopting a plant-rich diet will reduce your carbon footprint and animal suffering.