According to a study by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), 70% of mammal species protected under the CMS are used for wild meat consumption. This has led to drastic declines, and also the extinction of several migratory mammal populations.
The groundbreaking report found that wild meat is often a major driver for legal and illegal hunting, particularly of larged hooved mammals and primates, especially during times of conflict or famine and in the course of changing land use. According to the report, there is strong evidence that zoonotic disease outbreaks are linked to human activities, as is strongly believed by many scientists in the case of the current Covid-19 pandemic.
The taking of wild meat and consumption has been identified as the direct and causative agent for the spill-over into humans for Monkeypox virus, SARS, Sudan Ebola virus and Zaire Ebola virus, with subsequent human-to-human transmission.
This study looks for the first time at the extent to which terrestrial animals protected by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of ... see more »
Africa: Eating Wild Meat Significantly Increases Zoonotic Disease Risk - UN Report
UN News, 15 September 2021
The domestic consumption of meat from wild animals has significant impacts on most species protected under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals… Read more »
Egypt: Stamping Out Avian Flu in Egypt
FAO, 28 June 2021
From biosecurity labs to 3D animations, increased capacity and communication improve response to outbreaks Read more »
Africa: Could Bushmeat Trigger the Next Pandemic?
DW, 25 February 2021
Bushmeat is considered a virus vector and a cause of countless diseases. But the problem goes far beyond the consumption of bat stew. And the next pandemic is already lurking. Read more »
Africa: Hungry for Change - Faulty Food Systems Laid Bare By Covid-19 and Climate Crises
Thomson Reuters Foundation, 27 December 2020
The pandemic has made it harder for farmers - already grappling with climate extremes - to sell their harvests, while rising poverty pushes more city residents to use food banks Read more »
Africa: Covid-19 an Opportunity to Build Resilience Around Food Systems
IPS, 1 December 2020
The Barilla Centre for Food and Nutrition (BCFN) has appealed to the United Nations to educate citizens to use their roles as consumers to create a momentum for change. This was… Read more »
"Zoonotic diseases" such as Ebola, SARS, Zika, HIV/AIDS, West Nile fever and COVID-19 are infections that jump between animals and humans, some of which leave illness and death in ... Read more »
Animals can sometimes carry harmful germs that can spread to people and cause illness – these are known as zoonotic diseases or zoonoses.
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