Is The Next Pandemic Inevitable?

With the use of animals, for food, clothes, entertainment and science intensifying, is the next pandemic inevitable?

Throughout human history, pandemics have shaped societies, altered economies and changed the course of civilisation. From the Black Death to COVID-19, these global outbreaks have one consistent thread: many of them originate from our close interactions with animals. As long as humans continue to exploit animals for food, fashion, experimentation and entertainment, the next pandemic isn’t just a possibility—it’s a certainty waiting to unfold.

Child in a mask uses sanitiser in a classroom. Other masked students in background. Notebooks, pencils on desks. Bright, focused mood. — When will people learn that prevention is the cure?

A Brief History of Pandemics

Pandemics are not new. In fact, they are a recurring part of human existence. Some of the most devastating include:

The Plague of Justinian (541–542 AD) – Believed to have killed up to 50 million people, it was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, likely transmitted through fleas on rats.

The Black Death (1347–1351) – Another outbreak of Yersinia pestis that wiped out an estimated 30-60% of Europe's population.

The Spanish Flu (1918–1919) – An H1N1 influenza virus that originated in birds, it infected one-third of the world’s population and killed at least 50 million people.

HIV/AIDS (Identified in the 1980s) – Believed to have originated from chimpanzees in Central Africa, HIV crossed into humans through the hunting and consumption of bushmeat.

COVID-19 (2019–present) – Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, its origin is still being studied but is widely believed to have emerged from a live animal market in China, potentially via a bat or an intermediate host.

Where Do Pandemics Come From?

The majority of pandemics are zoonotic—they originate in animals and cross over to humans. This jump, known as “spillover,” happens when humans and animals interact closely, especially in conditions that stress and harm animals:

Wet markets and wildlife trade bring wild species into unnatural proximity with humans and domesticated animals.

Factory farms confine billions of animals in crowded, filthy conditions that are perfect breeding grounds for viruses and bacteria.

Deforestation and habitat destruction force wild animals into closer contact with human populations.

Global travel and trade then spread diseases at unprecedented speed.

Bats, birds, pigs and non-human primates are common reservoirs for viruses that can mutate and infect humans. But they’re not to blame—humans are the ones creating the conditions for spillover by encroaching on their habitats and using them for our purposes.

Animals and the Inescapable Risk of the Next Pandemic

The industrial-scale exploitation of animals—especially in the global meat, dairy, egg and seafood industries—is one of the most significant drivers of pandemic risk. Here's why:

Crowded animal farms allow pathogens to evolve rapidly. Viruses can mutate and reassort among animals like chickens and pigs, creating new strains that humans have no immunity to.

Antibiotic overuse in livestock contributes to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a looming public health threat that may soon make routine infections deadly.

Wildlife trade, both legal and illegal, exposes humans to unfamiliar viruses through the capture, transport and slaughter of wild animals.

Climate change, driven in part by animal agriculture, is shifting the ranges of disease-carrying species like mosquitoes and rodents, meaning that countries, previously considered safe from diseases like malaria, are now at risk.

Despite warnings from scientists and public health experts, the structural factors that led to COVID-19 remain largely unchanged. Meat and animal products continue to be produced on a massive scale, often under the very conditions that incubate the next deadly pathogen.

Preventing the Next Pandemic

The question is no longer if there will be another pandemic—but when. While surveillance, vaccines and emergency preparedness are critical, they are reactive solutions. To address the root cause, we must change our relationship with animals.

Transitioning to plant-based food systems reduces contact with animals and eliminates the need for risky animal farming practices.

Ending the wildlife trade, both for consumption and exotic pet industries, reduces the risk of novel viruses entering the human population.

Rewilding and habitat protection help maintain natural barriers between humans and wildlife.