Disease jump linked to food industry changes

Published on Monday 26 October 2009 20:54

THE increased globalisation of the food production industry is contributing to the spread of disease from humans to animals.

In a report out yesterday scientists at the University of Edinburgh said they have discovered a strain of bacteria that crossed from humans to chickens around 40 years ago and has since spread because the companies dominating the industry have a small amount of breeding lines.

It is thought to be the first clear evidence of bacteria crossing from humans to animals and spreading since animals were domesticated around 10,000 years ago.

Dr Ross Fitzgerald, of the Roslin Institute, said he believed the transfer is linked to major changes in the poultry industry over the last few decades.

"Half a century ago, chickens were reared for their eggs, with meat regarded as a by-product. Now the demand for meat has led to a poultry industry dominated by a few multinational companies which supply a limited number of breeding lines to a global market, thereby promoting the spread of the bacteria around the world."

He said the findings are thought to represent the first example of such a transfer being promoted by industrialisation and globalisation. Further research will focus on other animals.