Zoonotic infections hover

CONTROLLING coronavirus and other zoonotic infections in farmed domestic animals, farmed and captured wildlife, and companion animals is difficult in all countries and perhaps impossible in many developing countries, says the UN report.

There is consensus informal markets can be “epidemiologically risky”, especially those selling live domesticated animals or live or dead wild animals and those with poor hygiene.

“However, expert opinions differ as to whether live animal markets should be regulated more strictly, gradually upgraded with buy-in from vendors, or banned completely to reduce disease transmission risk,” says the report.

Strict regulation of food has proven difficult in governance-poor contexts and banning desired products often shifts the market underground.

“Informal, traditional or fresh produce markets have many benefits for people, including low prices, ease of access, the availability of preferred fresh and traditional foods, income-earning opportunities for women, worker independence, and attractions for tourists.

“However, these need to be weighed against the wider benefits to humanity (including local people) of preventing disease outbreaks and global pandemics. Ideally, solutions would be found that preserve the benefits while mitigating the risks of traditional markets.”

Strengthened sanitary regulations must go beyond public food markets and include the entire supply chain for domesticated and wild meat, including both farmed and captured wildlife.

“Better enforcement of these standards is absolutely essential to reduce risk. Adoption of animal welfare standards for the care, housing and transport of live animals along the entire supply chain is also needed to reduce risk of zoonotic disease transmission.”

Additional restrictions on which species can be legally sold should also be considered, as is being done in Asia in the wake of the Covid19 crisis. “Additional options for reducing risk, including bans on the highest risk markets, must also be considered if there is evidence that such measures would be effective in preventing future pandemics.”

Any consideration of additional regulations on informal markets, including those involving legally consumed wild meat, must consider social equity and human vulnerability. Some populations may be disproportionately dependent on these sources of protein to meet their food security needs.

The report sets out 10 practical steps that countries can implement, including expanded research into zoonotic diseases, improved monitoring and regulation of food systems, and incentivising sustainable land management practices.

Zoonotic diseases are “on the rise everywhere on the planet”, says the report, and African countries, a number of which have successfully managed deadly zoonotic outbreaks, “have the potential to leverage this experience to tackle future outbreaks through approaches that incorporate human, animal and environmental health” in a One Health approach.

“The continent is home to a large portion of the world’s remaining intact rainforests and other wild lands. Africa is also home to the world’s fastest-growing human population, leading to an increase in encounters between livestock and wildlife and in turn, the risk of zoonotic diseases.“

Efforts to strengthen capacity in Africa to detect and manage pandemic threats have only just started and services lag behind Asia.

“The One Health approach has been advocated by many, but its uptake and institutional support is uneven,” says the report, noting that more investment is needed.