Practical Ethics

By Katrien Devolder

Why do we force animals into close contact with each other, and with humans, while encouraging or even requiring humans to keep apart?  Dangerous viruses do not distinguish between human and non-human vectors, so why do we?

The vast majority of countries affected by the Covid-19 pandemic have adopted social distancing measures ranging from rules dictating how close we may be to each other, to bans on indoor gatherings, to closures of schools and workplaces, to travel bans. These measures have come at a significant cost—to the economy, to our mental health, and to our relationships. But they have saved, and are still saving, many lives. In many cases, these measures are therefore widely considered justified and indeed of the utmost importance.[1]

But if social distancing is crucial in confronting pandemics, why do we restrict it to humans?  After all, many of the most dangerous infectious diseases (including SARS, MERS, HIV-AIDS, and very likely Covid-19) originated in animals and were then transmitted to humans. Each year, such ‘zoonotic’ diseases infect one billion people and cause millions of deaths.[2] If dangerous viruses do not distinguish between human and non-human vectors, why do we? Continue reading →