Southeast Asia, home to diverse mammals and birds, faces rising zoonotic risks due to population growth, deforestation, and wildlife trade. Close human-wildlife interactions, often through trade for food and traditional medicine, increase the likelihood of disease spillovers. The organisation EcoHealth Alliance, implemented the project “Mitigating Zoonotic Disease Emergence Risk in Wildlife Trade in Southeast Asia” across Thailand and Vietnam, in collaboration with partners including the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (Vietnam), Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases Clinical Centre, and Chulalongkorn University (Thailand),
 
The project integrated three key components – scientific methods and evidence, human behaviour change, and policy – into pilot studies to form One Health-based risk-mitigation strategy targeting zoonotic spillover risk in the wildlife trade. It aimed to establish an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral network to facilitate communication and foster collaborations among scientists, policymakers, and communities to promote One Health collaborations in preventing zoonotic disease emergence in wildlife trade. The project showcased One Health approaches to address the challenges at the interconnections of conservation and public health, facilitated dialogue among stakeholders to support evidence-based policymaking, and translated policy into local-context practices.
 
Main results:
 
The uptake of protective measures among bat guano collectors was influenced by specific work and environmental conditions, and many barriers remain in implementation even if a strong willingness to change was expressed. Adapting from existing measures might be a better way than imposing a totally new measure. 
Information sharing and coordination between forestry and animal health departments could be an entry point to improve the management of zoonotic disease risk in wildlife farming. 
Preventative and protective practices should be considered when contact with wildlife is unavoidable as part of local livelihood.
 
Deep Dive: In cooperation with the Bat Guano workers in Thailand:

Background: It has been a long tradition for people to collect the Bat Guano from bat caves, which is then used all over the world as nutrient heavy fertilizer. Entering the caves creates a proximity between the animals and the workers and increases the risk for zoonotic spillovers as bats host a large reservoir of potential pathogens.
Activities: The project worked with local health and forestry authorities, industry, and religious partners to pilot and evaluate zoonotic risk mitigation interventions among bat guano workers.
Outcome: The outcome is the adoption of handwashing with water and soap among workers and the sustainable supply of soap on site provided by local business owners. The implementation of wearing N95 protective masks was more difficult, since the masks are physically uncomfortable with the humidity and high temperature at work.
Learnings: This is a great example of behaviour change interventions that mitigate the risk of zoonotic diseases while sustainably supporting bat conservation and income for the communities. The bat guano workers and business owners were very open to learning about the new implications and turning them into reality and they were also open for discussions of future initiatives. During this process, other health and safety issues were also discovered that lead to cooperation with the local clinic.
 
Products:  
Three community engaging and educational books targeting the public and communities, as well as One Health practitioners. 
Living with Wildlife through One Health
One Health in the Wildlife Trade
Living Safely with Bats – EcoHealth Alliance

A study report targeting policy stakeholders Understanding Wildlife Farming and Zoonotic Disease Management in Viet Nam
Four manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals targeting scientific communities.  
A workshop and webinar among the Alliance members and beyond. 
Three oral presentations at the 8^th World One Health Congress targeting One Health researchers, practitioners, and policy stakeholders.

Overall Outcomes:
Empowering Local Communities: Engaged over 70 bat guano workers and community leaders, integrating their knowledge into health and conservation strategies.
Strengthening Collaboration: Facilitated dialogue among 58 cross-sectoral stakeholders, resulting in actionable plans for sustainable farming and One Health initiatives.
Raising Awareness: Delivered accessible One Health educational tools to audiences in more than nine Asian countries through a volunteer network, boosting understanding of zoonotic risks
Ensuring Sustainability: Secured funding from National Geographic Society and Novo Nordisk Foundation to support long-term, tailored disease risk reduction strategies in wildlife trade.
 
The project had a wide impact on the local communities, national policy stakeholders and other institutions widely involved in wildlife trade, specifically through fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration for safer work and living spaces close to wildlife.
 
Find more information and the overall learnings of the Alliance financed projects in the report “Learning to make Change Happen.- Global Lessons from 18 projects”