Opinion Today: Our desire for affordable food is putting us in danger

We're playing a dangerous game of virus roulette.

View in browser|nytimes.com June 12, 2024 By Alexandra Sifferlin Senior Staff Editor, Opinion In October 2022 the science writer David Quammen introduced me to the concept of viral chatter. At the time, scientists were expressing concern that an increasing number of mammals of different species were dying from bird flu. The term "viral chatter" was coined many years earlier by the infectious-disease researcher Donald Burke. It refers to the initial sporadic spread of a virus from wild animals to people. "It's a warning signal that's often recognized too late," Quammen wrote at the time. I've been thinking about the ways that the H5N1 has been chattering lately. It's spreading among dairy herds throughout the United States, and so far three farmworkers have been infected. It feels like yet another warning going largely unheeded. Today Quammen returns with a guest essay that argues for introspection when it comes to the current state of H5N1, specifically the ways in which Americans' demand for mass-produced and inexpensive dairy and meat has created an environment conducive to viral spillover. "We have surrounded ourselves with chattel animals, raised and milked and fattened and slaughtered and plucked and butchered in staggering numbers," he writes. "It's no surprise that sometimes they give us their viruses." As Quammen explains, there are reasons to be optimistic that H5N1 won't become a pandemic among humans. Though he adds that "nothing is certain about how an influenza virus will evolve until it happens." And right now the virus has too many opportunities to change than many experts are comfortable with. The virus is chattering. Will government bodies that can do something hear it? Read the full essay: Steffanie Padilla Guest Essay Our Desire for Inexpensive Food Is Putting Us in Danger Factory farming increases the risks for epidemics. By David Quammen Here's what we're focusing on today: Editors' Picks Jessica Grose Young Women Are Fleeing Organized Religion. This Was Predictable. They're increasingly identifying as feminist at the same time that some denominations are drawing conservative lines in the sand. By Jessica Grose More From Opinion David Wallace-Wells If Not in New York, Then Where? The city was the best-case scenario for congestion pricing. What does it mean that the plan was shelved? By David Wallace-Wells Guest Essay Trump Would Be Long Gone if Only We Could … It was never going to be easy to get voters to abandon their hero. By Thomas B. Edsall You Decided to Become a Mother. What Happened Next? Times Opinion wants to hear about the challenges women face when they decide to become mothers. By Emily Holzknecht Guest Essay Israel's North Is Burning A cease-fire deal in Gaza might halt a war between Israel and Hezbollah. By Mairav Zonszein Bret Stephens The Most Courageous Thing That Joe Biden Can Do Israel, Ukraine and American democracy are on the line. By Bret Stephens Alito No Longer Tries to Hide His Theocratic Worldview Unlike Chief Justice Roberts, he wants to bring God onto the Supreme Court bench. By Jesse Wegman American Optimism Comes for the Economy And that's good for Biden. By Paul Krugman The Opinions I'm a Conservative. We Need to Make the Environment Nonpartisan. To save a warming planet, both parties must change. 6 MIN LISTEN Jeff Hinchee letters Reflections on Gen Z and 'Sellout Culture' Responses to an article about a generation tugged in different directions. Also: Gun trafficking to Mexico; a strong leader; Joe Biden's tall tales. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. Games Here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle and Spelling Bee. If you're in the mood to play more, find all our games here. Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com. If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our Help Page or contact The Times. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Opinion Today newsletter from The New York Times. To stop receiving Opinion Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018