April 19, 2026
New Study: Wildlife Trade Fuels Pandemics. Take Action.
A new scientific report is sounding the alarm — and the stakes could not be higher.
A major study published in Science finds that the global wildlife trade is dramatically increasing the risk of dangerous diseases jumping from animals to humans. Researchers found that 41% of traded wild mammals carry diseases that can infect people, making this industry a major driver of future outbreaks.
We’ve seen how this story ends.
COVID-19, Ebola, HIV, and mpox have all been linked to human interactions with wild animals. Scientists warn that the wildlife trade — from hunting and transport to crowded markets — creates constant opportunities for viruses to spread and evolve.
And the risk is growing. The longer animals are traded, the more diseases they carry — increasing the chances of a deadly outbreak.
But beyond the threat to human health, the wildlife trade is also a crisis of cruelty. Wild animals are torn from their natural habitats, often enduring extreme stress, injury, and suffering as they are captured, confined, and transported across the globe. Many die before ever reaching their destination. Those who survive are frequently kept in inhumane conditions or sold into exploitative industries. This trade is not only dangerous — it is deeply inhumane.
Despite this clear threat, the U.S. government still lacks a coordinated strategy to monitor and control the wildlife trade. Meanwhile, the United States remains one of the world’s largest importers of wildlife products.
That’s unacceptable.
We need bold, urgent action to prevent the next pandemic before it starts.
The Trump Administration must take an all-of-government approach to combat the wildlife trade and protect public health.
That means:
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Cracking down on illegal wildlife trafficking
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Strengthening oversight of legal wildlife imports
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Expanding disease surveillance systems
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Coordinating action across agencies like the CDC, USDA, and the Interior Department
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Working with global partners to reduce high-risk wildlife markets
Public health experts are clear: many pandemics can be stopped before they begin — but only if governments act.
We cannot wait for the next crisis.
The wildlife trade is a ticking time bomb for global health — and a source of immense suffering for animals. If we fail to act now, we risk repeating the devastation of the past few years.
Thank you for all that you do,
Mitch w/ Animal Commons
Source:
Washington Post | Here’s how the wildlife trade is fueling disease outbreaks across the globe
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