Protect wildlife from livestock diseases.

Abstract

This summer, seabirds in Europe, North America, and Africa suffered unprecedented high mortality as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) swept through their breeding colonies. Given that the potential for HPAI-which originated in farmed poultry-to affect wild birds has been known for more than a decade, how were these continents caught off guard? Nations must assume responsibility for protecting wildlife from anthropogenic diseases, particularly those originating from ever-increasing livestock populations.