The link between wildlife trade, consumption and zoonotic disease outbreaks with pandemic potential has been documented by a growing body of evidence worldwide. Wildlife trade and emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) of zoonotic origin are of particular concern in the Tropics, and particularly in Central Africa. In this region bushmeat is an essential part of the diet of millions of people, contributing 20–70% of all protein intake, with the trade of bushmeat estimated to reach USD 1–3 billion. A demand that is expected to grow with the increase of the human population in the region. Kinshasa for instance, capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with an estimated population of 13 million inhabitants in 2018, is predicted to become the largest city in Africa and the fourth largest in the world by 2050, with 35 million inhabitants. 

The role of unsustainable and illegal bushmeat hunting and consumption in species extinction is well known, as well as their cascading effects on ecosystem services and local food security. However, less is known about their contribution to the risk of zoonotic disease spread. And this, despite the fact that Central Africa has already experienced tragic examples of pathogen spillover most likely linked to wildlife consumption and trade, e.g. those causing acute outbreaks (Ebola) or with pandemic potential (SIV/HIV, other Retroviruses). It is therefore key to assess wildlife trade situations for risks of potentially serious zoonoses to inform policies to tightly monitor, regulate and control the consumption and trade. 

The overall objective of this project was to identify and map the risks of zoonotic disease transmission in bushmeat trade along value-chains from a source to the end markets, i.e. from a National Park to large and dense urban areas. In particular, the projects aim was 

• to characterise and assess the scale of the bushmeat trade between a National Park and urban centres, the species consumed and traded, the modes and drivers behind the consumption and trade along the value-chains 

• to detect and measure the presence of pathogens in bushmeat samples at various nodes of the value-chains 

• to quantify the risks triggering pathogen presence and loads, transmission to humans, and spread of infections to human populations along the value-chains. 

Main Results: 

• Identification of several pathogens (i.e. Primate T-Lymphotropic Virus (PTLV), the Taterapox virus, an Orthopoxvirus, the bacterium Bacillus Cereus Biovar. Anthracis (BCBVA)), present in collected samples of bushmeat from the region 

• About 800 samples were collected showing that mostly high-risk taxa are being sold on markets. 

• Hunting is mostly done for financial reasons and wild meat is mostly consumed due to  lack of alternatives. 

• Handling meat was mostly done under unhygienic circumstances (with bear hands and direct contact to blood)   

Recommendations: 

• The introduction of monitoring with more in-depth and regular sampling, particularly at outlets where taxonomic groups known to be transporters of zoonotic pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential are sold (e.g. Primates and Rodents, but also Artiodactyls as highlighted in our study) 

• Developing awareness campaigns on the risks of zoonoses and the behaviours to adopt to reduce these risks 

• The development of a participatory early warning system for zoonotic diseases 

• The development of policies and practices to strictly regulate and control the bushmeat trade  

Products:  

• Report on Website 

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”