MPs and Peers Call for Fur Ban to Prevent Future Pandemics

A Public Health Threat?

A group of over 40 British MPs and peers have raised concerns about the public health risks associated with the fur trade, particularly in light of recent scientific findings. They argue that fur farms create ideal conditions for the emergence and spread of novel pathogens, potentially leading to future pandemics.

Their concerns are based on a study published in the journal Nature, which identified 39 viruses on Chinese fur farms with a high risk of spreading to humans, including 13 potentially high-risk novel viruses. Additionally, eminent virologists have warned that fur farming practices, particularly with mink, significantly increase the likelihood of future pandemics.

The MPs and peers point to outbreaks of bird flu on hundreds of European fur farms as evidence of the potential risks. In the US, one person has already died from a mutated strain of bird flu that spread to cattle, prompting California to declare an emergency.

They also highlight the ethical concerns surrounding the fur trade, arguing that it is an "affront to animal welfare." The UK is currently "outsourcing suffering" by importing fur from countries with questionable animal welfare practices.

The group calls on the government to back a new bill banning fur in the UK, citing the clear public health and ethical risks associated with the industry. They urge the government to listen to the warnings of virologists and take action to prevent the next pandemic.

The government has yet to formally respond to the bill, but is expected to do so when it is debated in Parliament. In the meantime, the public is urged to consider the ethical and health implications of the fur trade and support efforts to ban it in the UK.