High risk of animal-to-human diseases developing in some China fur farms, animal protection group says

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15/04/2024 10:10

HONG KONG, April 15 (Reuters) - An investigation of five
fur farms in China housing foxes, raccoon dogs and mink found a
high risk of diseases developing that could jump from animals to
humans, said animal protection group Humane Society
International who conducted the study at the end of 2023.
    The farms in China's northern Hebei and Liaoning provinces
each held between 2,000 and 4,000 animals in intensive
conditions, including in close proximity to poultry, HSI said.
    Alastair MacMillan, a visiting professor at Surrey
University's Veterinary School, said the high stocking density
of the animals facilitates the rapid spread of viruses on
droplets from one to another, and potentially to humans.
    "The rapid circulation and mixing of different strains of
virus from animal to animal facilitates their adaption to a
mammalian host, the development of mutant strains of concern and
a greater likelihood of a threat of human infection."
    China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs did not
respond to requests for comment regarding the conditions on the
fur farms and the risk of disease spread.
    MacMillan said that from a disease transmission and public
health perspective the footage was extremely worrying as it is
well known that animals farmed for their fur are susceptible to
respiratory viruses that can infect humans.
    Data from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic briefly
uploaded to a database by Chinese scientists last year suggested
raccoon dogs may also have been involved in coronavirus reaching
humans.
    Photos and footage from HSI showed animals densely packed in
small empty cages with wire mesh floors. Reuters was not able to
independently verify the footage.
    Many animals could be seen pacing up and down repetitively,
an action linked to psychological distress, according to
veterinary experts.
    "Mentally disturbed animals, piles of animal filth, barren
cages and worrying zoonotic disease is in stark contrast to the
glamorous image the fur trade tries to portray," said Peter Li,
HSI's China policy expert.
    Even as China's fur production has fallen in line with
global trends, down 50% from 2022 to 2023 and a near 90% decline
in the past decade, there appears to be still robust demand for
fur.
    Social media platforms such as e-commerce site Xiaohongshu
and Weibo showed users discussing wearing fur as desirable and
practical for keeping warm.

 (Reporting by Farah Master; additional reporting by Edward Cho;
Editing by Hugh Lawson)
 ((farah.master@thomsonreuters.com; +852 3462 7709;))