WCS 3-Sentence Science

Predicting Disease Transmission from Bushmeat

May 9, 2019

Photo credit: ©WCS

Each year, Wildlife Conservation Society scientists publish more than 300 peer-reviewed studies and papers. “WCS 3-Sentence Science” is a regular tip-sheet — in bite sized helpings — of some of this published work.

Here we present the work of the WCS Wildlife Health Program on disease transmission through the bushmeat trade:

1. Trade of bushmeat and other wildlife for human consumption presents a unique set of challenges to policymakers who are confronted with multiple trade-offs between conservation, food security, food safety, culture, and tradition.
2. Researchers looked at bushmeat markets in Lao PDR and noted high contact rates between consumers and bushmeat, which could add to the risk of disease transmission.
3. Pursuing integrative approaches to the study of bushmeat consumption is essential to develop effective and balanced policies that support conservation, public health, and rural development goals.

Study and Journal: “Toward a quantification of risks at the nexus of conservation and health: The case of bushmeat markets in Lao PDR” from Science of The Total
WCS Co-Author(s): Mathieu Pruvot (Lead) , WCS Wildlife Health Program ; Kongsy Khammavong, Phonesavanh Milavong, Amanda Fine, Sarah Olson , WCS Wildlife Health Program

For more information, contact: Stephen Sautner, 718–220–3682, ssautner@wcs.org.