DNI Warns: ‘Drivers for Disease Emergence Persist and Are on the Rise, Including…Mass Food Production’

(CNSNews.com) – Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines stated in her written annual threat assessment presented today to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that “drivers for disease emergence,” including “mass food production,” are “on the rise.

“Countries globally remain vulnerable to the emergence or introduction of a novel pathogen that could cause a devastating new pandemic,” said the Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community that Haines presented to the committee.

“Drivers for disease emergence persist and are on the rise, including climate change, deforestation, human encroachment into previously undisturbed habitats, wildlife harvesting and trade, mass food production, and lack of international consensus on biosafety norms,” says the assessment.

“These drivers are compounded by factors that facilitate global spread, such as international trade and travel, inadequate global disease surveillance and control, distrust of public health authorities, health disinformation, and health system strain brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the assessment continued.

“Emerging agricultural and livestock diseases and antimicrobial resistance—although not necessarily involving pathogens of pandemic concern—threaten to cause immense economic damage and disruption food supplies if they spread globally or into new regions,” said the intelligence community assessment.

From CNSNews - READ ORIGINAL

Some media, including videos, may only be available to view at the original.