Environmental Science Essay: Meat Consumption and Zoonotic Diseases

This essay explores the implications of meat consumption, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing for a reconsideration of dietary choices. The author examines the link between meat consumption and zoonotic diseases, such as SARS and avian flu, highlighting that many scientists believe that these diseases originate from exotic meat markets. The essay presents arguments based on research showing the increased health risks associated with red meat consumption, including higher chances of contracting diseases like stroke, diabetes, and kidney infections. It also discusses the environmental impact of livestock farming, including greenhouse gas emissions and land degradation, and suggests that adopting vegetarian or organic lifestyles could extend human existence and protect the environment. The essay addresses counterarguments, such as the role of individual responsibility in food safety and the spread of zoonotic diseases, and concludes by emphasizing the need to reduce human-animal interaction, including livestock farming, and promote organic agriculture to minimize disease transmission and environmental pollution. It references several scientific articles to support its claims.

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INTRODUCTION
The recent coronavirus pandemic has posed unprecedented times among humans. One
thing that most scientists believe is that most of the pandemic diseases such as swine, bird flu,
and SARS originate from exotic meat. It is bad enough that humans contract some diseases from
animals based foods such as harmful bacteria such as salmonella and E-coli found in the
animal’s intestines and still need to add more viruses into the mix through eating meat (Awaidy,
Salah and Hilal 2). It is highly believed that the current COVID-19 originates from a wet meat
market in China, thus leading to massive rethink by meat consumers around food (Murphy 1).
Therefore, the present paper examines possible reasons why humans should reconsider eating
meat and going adopting vegetarian and organic life to extend their existence as a result of the
current COVID-19.
EXPOSITION
Research shows that people who are high consumers of red meat are 25% more likely to
contract and die of various diseases such as stroke, diabetes, lungs, and kidney infections.
Salmonella is always associated with the consumption of contaminated food form pig meats and

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other poultry meats (Mrudula 400). On the other hand, influenza viruses such as avian influenza
tend to circulate from poultry to humans when both come into contact; thus, that is why
researchers highly believe that the COVID-19 originated from the wet market in china, whereby
both live and dead animals are being sold for human consumption(Awaidy, Salah and Hilal 2).
During the damp market activities, animals such as bats and snakes that are perceived to be
among the animals sold in China’s wet market and contain various viruses in their bodies,
exposed other meat products to the deadly disease since they are always stacked together while
being transported and stored. Thus when one buys any other meat product that had been
contaminated initially with the virus ends up getting the diseases.
ARGUMENT
The past and current coronavirus pandemic should make human reconsider consuming
meat with the main reason meat products being the source of the virus. Present China’s ban on
the wet market and consumption of wild animals is a confirmation of the scientific notion of the
source of the diseases. Studies show that over the past, most of the viruses and bacteria have
caused significant illnesses in the past have been zoonotic, which is undeniable that the cause is
as a result of the human-animal interactions. Such as farming, hunting, keeping pets as well as
consumption (Sack 1). The HIN1 virus caused the 1918 flu that affected over a quarter of the
world population and killed over 50 million people; that researchers believed originated from
Kansas chicken farm.
OBJECTION
Most of the scientist and consumer activist will argue and object that social contracts not
all the zoonotic diseases as a result of animal exploitations by humans. Malaria considered to

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have risen from Africa was not as a result of human consumption of any species (Ilea 158).
Additionally, most of the zoonotic diseases are majorly transferred when one consumes
undercooked infected meat products, which is perceived as an individual responsibility to ensure
that the source of the product is safe for consumption. Thus, to say that to stop eating animal
meat would not bring to an end of the spread of such zoonotic diseases is highly un-factual and
misplaced.

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REPLY
Zoonotic diseases tend to spread through close interaction between humans and animals
that can either be; direct contact whereby saliva, urine, blood mucus, and body fluids from the
infected animals come into contact with the human through touch and bites. Indirect contact
whereby humans come into contact with the places where the infected animals live and roam,
such as water, soil, and chicken cops, among others, and lastly, foodborne when one eats
contaminated food such as undercooked meat (Smit and Dick 273). Considering these three
contamination modes, it is, therefore, so that humanity may not contract the zoonotic disease
through eating but will still contract the virus through association. Thus concerning Ilea’s view,
the global population should reconsider abandoning livestock farming and adopt organic
agriculture that will not only enhance environmental protection but will also reduce human-
animal disease transfer.
CONCLUSION
From the above, it is quite clear that both consumption, direct and indirect contact with
animals exposed human beings to numerous pandemic diseases. The current COVID-19 that is
assumed is as a result of the consumption of wild animal in China, is a clear indication that
humans should turn into being vegan. This would not only reduce the probability of inflection
but will also help in keeping the environment clean and safe from animal pollution as most of the
lands will be used for organic farming.

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Works Cited
Awaidy, Salah Al, and Hilal Al Hashami. "Zoonotic Diseases In Oman: Successes, Challenges,
And Future Directions". Vector-Borne And Zoonotic Diseases, vol 20, no. 1, 2020, pp. 1-
9. Mary Ann Liebert Inc, doi:10.1089/vbz.2019.2458.
Ilea, Ramona Cristina. "Intensive Livestock Farming: Global Trends, Increased Environmental
Concerns, And Ethical Solutions". Journal Of Agricultural And Environmental Ethics,
vol 22, no. 2, 2008, pp. 153-167. Springer Science And Business Media LLC,
doi:10.1007/s10806-008-9136-3.
Mrudula, Owk. "Impact Of Corona Virus – A Statistical Evaluation". Journal Of Advanced
Research In Dynamical And Control Systems, vol 12, no. 3, 2020, pp. 399-407. Institute
Of Advanced Scientific Research, doi:10.5373/jardcs/v12i3/20201207.
Murphy, Macken. "Coronavirus Should Make You Reconsider Eating Meat". Sentientmedia.Org,
2020, https://sentientmedia.org/coronavirus-should-make-you-reconsider-eating-meat/.
Sack, Alexandra et al. "Zoonotic Diseases From Horses: A Systematic Review". Vector-Borne
And Zoonotic Diseases, 2020. Mary Ann Liebert Inc, doi:10.1089/vbz.2019.2541.
Smit, Lidwien A. M., and Dick Heederik. "Impacts Of Intensive Livestock Production On
Human Health In Densely Populated Regions". Geohealth, vol 1, no. 7, 2017, pp. 272-
277. American Geophysical Union (AGU), doi:10.1002/2017gh000103.