'Live animals are the largest source of infection': dangers of the export trade

Transporting more livestock will increase transmission of diseases, including some that could also threaten humans

• Outbreak of animal disease was blow to Sudan exports

The growth of the live animal export trade will make the spread of diseases more likely, experts have warned.

Almost 30% more pigs, goats, cows and sheep were shipped, flown and driven across the world in 2017 than a decade earlier, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization.