Could the superbug crisis from factory farming be the hidden ‘super’ threat during the pandemic?

With factory farming routinely giving farm animals the same critically important antibiotics used to treat up to 100% of critically ill COVID-19 patients in the early stage of the pandemic[1][2], the rise of superbugs from factory farming presents a real and present danger to global public health.

A report released by World Animal Protection this World Food Day, October 16, finds that superbugs are emerging on farms from antibiotic overuse, and those antibiotic resistant bacteria are entering our food chain and our environment. Almost three-quarters of the world’s antibiotics are used in animals[3], the majority on factory farms with antibiotics used to prop-up low-welfare practices such as the raising of fast-growing meat chickens and routine mutilation of piglets. These animals are all housed in stressful, cramped conditions that provide the perfect breeding ground for the spread of infection and emergence of disease.

This is a risky business - when superbugs are passed from animals to people, they make us less able to fight disease. Already, 700,000 people die each year from infections that cannot be treated by antibiotics. By 2050, this is expected to rise to 10 million people each year.[4]

A public poll, also from World Animal Protection, shows that 4 out of 5 people surveyed across 15 countries are concerned that the next pandemic could come from farm animals, and a similar number are unaware of the superbug threat from factory farming.

Key poll results showed that:

• 83% are concerned about the possibility of a pandemic originating from farm animals
• 88% are concerned about superbugs coming from farm animals
• 82% under-estimate the amount of the world’s antibiotics that are used on farm animals
• Superbugs causing adverse health effects (70%) or contaminating meat (66%) are most alarming
• 92% believe governments should monitor and report on antibiotic use in farm animals
• 85% believe antibiotics should only be used to treat sick animals, and
• 4 out of 5 would refuse to shop with retailers that don’t ensure animals are treated well and antibiotics used responsibility in meat they sell.

World Animal Protection, Head of Farming, Jacqueline Mills says:

"If the pandemic is the flash flood that has taken us by surprise, the superbug crisis is the only too predictable slow rising tide. We can’t ignore the contribution that the overuse of antibiotics in factory farming is having on the rise in antibiotic resistance – it is a ticking timebomb that could make the current public health crisis even worse if antibiotics are ineffective in treating secondary infections.

"Governments need to lift animal welfare standards, and monitor and report on antibiotic use in farm animals and supermarkets should be setting the bar far higher to ensure the animals in their supply chains are treated well, and antibiotics are used responsibly in farming."

World Animal Protection is calling for the end of factory farming, reduced production and consumption of farm animal products and for all remaining farm animal production to be high welfare.

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Notes to editors:

• For an interview with a spokesperson contact: Kirsty Warren, Global Media Manager on +44 (0) 7809 269 747 or kirstywarren@worldanimalprotection.org
• Over 15,700 people were surveyed across 15 countries in a poll for World Animal Protection by Flood and Partners to gain an understanding of their knowledge and attitude towards antibiotic use in farming, antimicrobial resistance, and pandemic risk from farm animals. People were surveyed in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, and United States. 
• To see the AMR poll please visit this link.
• To see the AMR report please visit this link.
• For more information on World Animal Protection, visit our website.