Dr. Deonandan’s recent op-ed in the Ottawa Citizen (“Cancelled funding for mRNA flu vaccine a global mistake,” June 2) rightly underscores the urgency of preparing for H5N1, but we also need to confront the root cause of this growing threat: industrial animal agriculture. High-density factory farms — especially egg and poultry facilities — create an ideal breeding ground for highly pathogenic avian influenza to emerge and evolve. While investments in mRNA vaccines are critical, they are only part of the solution. If we continue to ignore how our food system is helping incubate the next pandemic, we’ll remain locked in a reactive cycle of crisis management.
The added irony here is that most flu vaccines still rely on eggs sourced from the very types of facilities most vulnerable to avian flu outbreaks. If we’re serious about prevention, pandemic preparedness must include reforming the agricultural conditions that fuel these viruses in the first place.
Jessica Bohrson resides in Alberta, Canada, and serves as a Public Relations Specialist at Mercy For Animals, an international animal protection nonprofit.
