As the world marks World Zoonoses Day, Wild Africa is calling for urgent and consistent action to reduce the risk of future pandemics by curbing the illegal bushmeat trade.
The environmental NGO has also called on the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the new wildlife bill, and also urged the protection of natural habitats.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Festus Iyorah, Nigeria Representative for Wild Africa and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Lagos.
Newsmen reports that World Zoonoses Day is observed every July 6 to commemorate the day Louis Pasteur successfully administered the first rabies vaccine in 1885, a milestone in the prevention of zoonotic diseases.
According to Iyorah, zoonotic diseases, also known as zoonoses, are infectious diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
“They include Ebola, Mpox (also known as Monkeypox), Lassa Fever, and COVID-19 — all of which have affected Nigeria in recent years,” Iyorah said.
Referencing the World Health Organization, Iyorah said that a staggering 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate from animals, with 71.8 per cent of them emerging from wildlife.
He said that the illegal bushmeat trade in Nigeria, particularly in endangered species like pangolins, bats, monkeys, and snakes, persists in open markets and on roadside stalls.
He noted that while bushmeat is considered a source of animal protein in remote communities, its increasing demand in urban areas, such as Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, is a cause for concern.
He said that during past outbreaks like Ebola and Anthrax, federal and state governments temporarily cracked down on bushmeat markets.
He added that with waning public attention and inconsistent enforcement, traders and buyers often return to business as usual.
He quoted Dr Mark Ofua, the West Africa Representative at Wild Africa as saying:
“World Zoonosis Day is a reminder that protecting wildlife is protecting ourselves. By embracing the One Health approach, which unites human, animal, and environmental health, we can break the chain of zoonotic diseases.
“I call on policymakers, communities, and individuals to join hands in preserving Nigeria’s rich biodiversity, halting illegal bushmeat consumption, and investing in sustainable alternatives for those who depend on it.”
Iyorah said that zoonotic disease transmission happens through direct or indirect human-animal interaction (animal bites, scratches, faeces).
He added that the consumption of animal products and their environments, including natural, cultivated, built (i.e., abattoirs) and commercial environments, such as wet markets also increases its occurrence.
He said that, though, many zoonotic transmissions happen between humans and domestic animals, or including livestock, the majority, up to 71.8 per cent, of zoonotic diseases arise from wildlife species.
He stressed that the most devastating pandemics in human history were all caused by zoonoses from wildlife.
Iyorah said that in recent years, Nigeria has experienced or been vulnerable to numerous zoonotic diseases, including:
“Mpox: 3,771 suspected cases, 1,086 confirmed in Nigeria since 2017.
“Yellow Fever: 589 suspected cases in the first four months of 2024 alone.
“Anthrax: Outbreak in neighboring Ghana killed 97 animals and infected several people.
“Lassa Fever: Endemic in Nigeria, transmitted via rodents.
“Marburg Virus: Recent outbreaks in West Africa underscore the need for surveillance.
“Bird Flu: Reported across West Africa; can spread from wild to domestic birds and humans.
He said that on World Zoonosis Day, experts are sounding the alarm that human-driven actions, such as habitat destruction, biodiversity loss and the bushmeat trade, are fueling zoonoses,
He added that these habits, not only endanger human lives but also imperiling wildlife and compromising the ecosystems we all depend on.
He said, however, that Nigeria has made progress recently in protecting endangered species by introducing the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, which has passed its third reading.
He said that the bill would move to the Senate for further consideration, adding that more needs to be done to support the bill for the president’s approval and its enforcement as a law.
.Iyorah said that Wild Africa implores the Nigerian populace to cease the sale and consumption of bushmeat, joining the concerted effort against it.
He added that the NGO is running an awareness campaign across Nigeria, utilizing TV, radio, print media, billboards, and social media to inform the public that the health of humans, animals, and the environment is highly interconnected and that we must protect wildlife to protect ourselves.
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