FAO Warns West Africa: Avoid Fruit Bats to Contain World's Deadliest Ebola Outbreak
July 21, 2014 4:10 PM EDT | Source: NewMediaWire
Rome, Italy--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2014) - Increased efforts are needed to improve awareness among rural communities in West Africa about the risks of contracting the Ebola virus from eating certain wildlife species including fruit bats, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned today. A comprehensive report is available at: www.fao.org/docrep/014/i2407e/i2407e00.pdf
Guinea, Liberia
and Sierra Leone
are struggling to contain the world’s deadliest recorded outbreak of the virus,
which is transmitted by direct contact with the blood and body fluids of
infected people as well as infected animals.
The West African epidemic is thought to have started when the virus crossed
over from infected wildlife into the human population and subsequently began
spreading between people.
Curbing human-to-human transmission is the most important focus for governments
and international health agencies. However, FAO is working closely with the
World Health Organization (WHO) to raise
awareness of the transmission risks from wildlife among rural communities that
hunt for bushmeat - or meat obtained from the forests - to supplement their
diets and income. These communities risk future spill-over from species that
can carry the virus, including fruit bats, some primates, and duikers.
“We are not suggesting that people stop hunting altogether, which isn’t
realistic,” said FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Juan Lubroth. “But communities
need clear advice on the need not to touch dead animals or to sell or eat the
meat of any animal that they find already dead. They should also avoid hunting
animals that are sick or behaving strangely, as this is another red flag.”
Fruit bats – usually eaten dried or in a spicy soup – are thought to be the
most likely reservoir species for the virus, which they can carry without
developing clinical signs of the disease, and should be avoided altogether,
according to FAO.
“The virus is killed when meat is cooked at a high temperature or heavily
smoked, but anyone who handles, skins or butchers an infected wild animal is at
risk of contracting the virus,” Lubroth said.
Myths and mistrust thwarting efforts
While several governments in the region have attempted to outlaw the sale and
consumption of bushmeat, bans have proved impossible to enforce and have met
with suspicion from rural communities.
“There is a lot of mistrust, to the extent that people are hiding patients
rather than getting medical help, and it’s very difficult to control the
disease in the midst of many myths and rumours,” said Katinka de Balogh, FAO
veterinary public health officer and Ebola focal point.
De Balogh said there were growing concerns about the effect the outbreak may
have on food security in some parts of the region as some farmers are too
afraid to work in their fields, while some markets have also closed down.
FAO action plan
FAO has already committed resources and is working with governments, WHO
country offices and other partners in Guinea,
Liberia and Sierra Leone to
improve information about the virus at community-level, using existing networks
such as rural radio and agricultural extension services.
“It is critical for rural communities to understand the risks, both of
human-to-human transmission and from wildlife, so that they are in a position
to make informed decisions themselves,” de Balogh said.
The Organization will work with governments to also set up wildlife
surveillance systems to support early detection of the virus, collaborating
with wildlife rangers, veterinarians and local universities.
“Rural communities have an important role to play in reporting unusual
mortality in the animal population, which is another reason that their
collaboration is so crucial,” de Balogh said.
In addition, FAO will help to assess the role of hunting in livelihoods with a
view to finding healthier and more sustainable long-term livestock production
alternatives to provide people with additional protein and income.
West Africa’s first human cases of Ebola virus disease were suspected to have
occurred in December 2013, and according to WHO more
than 600 people have died from the disease in the region.
Lethal in up to 90 percent of cases, Ebola virus disease causes multiple organ
failure and, in some cases, severe hemorrhaging. There is currently no
vaccine for the disease.
Audio:
Interview with FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Juan Lubroth
LEARN MORE:
Investigating the role of bats in emerging zoonoses
Lifting the veil of mystery surrounding bats
Bats as bushmeat: implication for global public health
Bushmeat consumption, wildlife trade and global public health risks
FAO Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES)
World Health Organization: Ebola virus disease
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