Wild animals as sources of epidemics: To mark the “anniversary” of the start of the corona pandemic in Wuhan, China, the nature conservation organization WWF is highlighting the continuing danger of new zoonoses from the wild animal trade in Asia. The analysis shows that hundreds of wildlife markets are located in areas with a particularly high risk of animal-to-human transmission of dangerous pathogens. In addition, the WWF highlights other reasons for the increase in the zoonosis risk and shows the need for action in many Southeast Asian countries. The bottom line is: nature conservation is also health care.
About a year ago the drama began to unfold more and more: A new lung disease spread in the Chinese city of Wuhan – then a global pandemic developed from it, which is still known to be difficult for us. According to experts, however, significantly worse viruses than Sars-CoV-2 could come our way, because the potential for the development of new pathogens of this type remains. It is now considered certain that the Sars-CoV-2 virus originally jumped from a wild animal to humans. It is assumed that over 60 percent of the newly emerging infectious diseases are so-called zoonoses. That is why it is so important to look at the roots of these diseases.
Focus on transmission foci
They arise where humans and animals come into close contact with one another. Farm animals pose a risk, but also wild animals if they are traded on markets. In this context, China and some countries in Southeast Asia have long been considered hotspots for the risk of developing zoonoses. On the occasion of the start of the spread of Sars-CoV-2 about a year ago, the WWF has therefore again dealt with the wildlife trade in Southeast Asia. The focus was on the Mekong region, which includes various states.
Above all, the analysis shows that there are hundreds of markets in large cities in the region that are located in areas with a particularly high risk of zoonoses. Live wild animals and farm animals are sold and slaughtered side by side – for food or for use in traditional medicine. “Large markets with low hygiene standards in which game meat is sold are particularly risky for the transmission of zoonoses,” says Stefan Ziegler from WWF Germany. Another problem is that many people, especially in rural areas, are still dependent on wild animals for their food supply. However, they are also increasingly being hunted for sale in the urban markets for a source of income. Rodents and bats, which are considered sources of particularly dangerous pathogens, are often among the many different wild animal species that are traded.
Species protection as health care
To counter the problem, species and nature conservation should go hand in hand with public health care, writes the WWF: The prevention of illegal and unregulated wildlife trade is just as important as the enforcement of hygiene and safety practices on the wildlife markets and in restaurants. The nature conservation organization emphasizes that consumer education could also make important contributions.
At the decision-making level, there has already been some progress in the fight against the risks of zoonoses. But in the Southeast Asian countries there is often too little financial means for the measures and institutions that are supposed to enforce the law, monitor the trade in wild animals and ensure better standards. “What happens in the dark and remains in the dark is risky. The smuggling of wild animals beyond all controls and regulations can be an ideal breeding ground for virus leaps from animals to humans, ”warns Ziegler.
In addition to the wildlife trade, WWF also draws attention to another fundamental problem in connection with zoonoses: Southeast Asia is affected by massive deforestation. Between 1990 and 2010, around 32 million hectares of forest were lost there. “When habitats are destroyed and natural barriers are removed, that brings species into contact that were not in contact before. If new settlement areas are created there, a new spatial closeness to people and their livestock arises, ”explains Ziegler. The destruction of natural areas can therefore also lead to an increased risk of developing new diseases. The bottom line is that it is clear: Animal and nature protection are also measures for human health care, sums up the WWF.
Source: WWF, WWF analysis