Bushmeat trade identified as potential spreader of zoonotic disease

AS various new illnesses take hold worldwide, scientists and conservationists are focusing on certain practices that exacerbate the prevalence of zoonotic diseases.

Zoonotic diseases are illnesses that can be passed from animals to humans.

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The bushmeat trade is one practice that has been identified as a potential threat in the spread of disease from animals to humans, as it can involve exposure to pathogens carried in wild animals, often in poor health from immense stress, poor diet, dehydration and poor hygiene in the transport and handling process.

According to Wild Africa, 75% of new human diseases identified over the last three decades are zoonotic.

The organisation says biodiversity loss, the extinction of species, or a significant reduction in population sizes, has been identified as a major driver of outbreaks.

Citing a recent meta analysis covering 1 000 studies, Wild Africa says, while habitat loss and the degradation of natural ecosystems are not linked to infectious disease outbreaks in the analysis, it contributes to biodiversity loss and is caused by agricultural expansion, logging, mining, livestock grazing and population growth.

Deforestation, even of select species of trees, can have knock-on effects as seen in Uganda where the cutting of palm trees caused changes in animal diets, said Wild Africa.

Linus Unah, West Africa director at Wild Africa, says, while zoonotic diseases cause 2.5 billion cases of illness and 2.7 million deaths worldwide each year, it goes further than health implications.

“Zoonotic diseases, brought about by biodiversity loss and harmful practices within the bushmeat trade, have far-reaching economic consequences, too,” said Unah.

“In 2015, for example, the Ebola epidemic cost countries like Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone estimated losses of US$1.6-billion in forgone economic growth, according to the World Bank.

“Collaboration across governments, NGOs and society at large is crucial to combat new outbreaks,” continues Unah.

“Governments need to be prepared and ready for pandemics, but we also need to address the root causes of these new diseases, which is our behaviour towards nature.

“If we protected and respected wildlife and their habitats, the risks would be much lower. By keeping wildlife wild, we really are keeping ourselves safe. Protecting nature protects us all.”

About Wild Africa
Wild Africa aims to be Africa’s most effective conservation communicator, inspiring the public support and political will to protect Africa’s wildlife and wild spaces forever.

The organisation believes people and wildlife can only survive and thrive together, so is popularising conservation with a much broader audience than has previously been engaged.

By amplifying the voices of African opinion leaders from every field through a powerful network of media partners and diverse programming, Wild Africa seeks to promote domestic wildlife tourism, local conservation projects, and the passage and effective enforcement of conservation laws.

Wild Africa also aims to deliver permanent reductions in wildlife crime, the demand for illegal bushmeat, human/wildlife conflict and habitat loss.

The organisation’s network includes more than 20 national and international broadcasters, as well as radio, newspaper, billboard, PR and social media companies who work with Wild Africa pro bono to add their voices and promote conservation and environmental issues.

The organisation partners with over 160 ambassadors from music, sport, film, TV, business, religion and government from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Rwanda, Ghana, Namibia and Zambia.

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