An Assessment of the Conservation Attitude towards Bats in Bamenda City, Northwest Region, Cameroon

Maurice, Melle Ekane; Flaubert, Olle Ambe; Mbinde, Ekabe Quenter; Mbah, Chah Nestor

doi:10.22161/ijfaf.1.3.2

Cited by 3 publications

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“…Human-wildlife (including bat) contact increases the risk of zoonotic pathogens in the MCR. Colonies of straw-colored (Eidolon helvum) and Epomophorus gambianus fruit bats have been identified as living in close proximity with humans [18][19][20][21] providing ecosystem services for residents but also transmitting diseases to humans ("ecosystems disservice") [22]. Colonies of bats live in fruit trees including among others mango (Mangifera indica), guava (Psidium guajava) and pawpaw (Carica papaya) [22] around homesteads, in farms and in the forest.…”

Section: The Ecological and Social Context Of Mount Cameroon Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, the people's main activity of subsistent and largescale agriculture expose them to scratching, bites, urine and droppings of bats. A combination of changes in human behaviour (underpinned by increasing human populations) and the spatial expansion of plantation agriculture by the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), Del Monte Inc. and private individuals, direct contact with bats through hunting, selling, and/or eating might provide great opportunity for zoonotic transmissions [19] This is the case of Cameroon's Southwest Region [14] in general and the MCR in particular where there is the growing of palm oil, banana, rubber, tea, cocoa and subsistent food crops of up to 50 ha in size [11]. Fruit trees in farms and mountain caves provide roosts for significant colonies of fruit bats and avenues for human-bat contact that seem, as reported by health workers, to partly account for the high numbers of patients suffering from fevers and rabies in the area.…”

Section: The Ecological and Social Context Of Mount Cameroon Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The bat meat chain and perceptions of the risk of contracting Ebola in the Mount Cameroon region

Akem

Pemunta

2020

BMC Public Health

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Background: Local people's interaction with bats render them vulnerable to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). This paper examines perceptions of risk involved in the hunting, handling, processing and consumption of bat meat in the Mount Cameroon region of Southwest Cameroon. It focuses on the myriad cultural beliefs, gendered patterns of activity and institutional arrangements in which the bat meat production chain is embedded. Methods: We conducted 30 ethnographic interviews with a sample of purposively selected men and women involved in the bat meat trade. The interviews were tape recorded, transcribed verbatim and inductive analysis was performed on the data. Findings: The findings suggests that more urban men than villagers and hunters consume bat meat. Different practices and behaviours expose the mostly uneducated, young, single men and women to the risk of Ebola infection depending on their differential level of intervention in the human-bat interaction and value chain linking hunters, sellers and customers. The killing of bats with the mouth during hunting expose hunters (young men) while the preparation of bat carcasses for consumption also put women, (mostly young and unmarried) at risk. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the complexity and nuances of gender, poverty and Ebola outcomes predispose some marginal groups to the risk of infection with zoonotic diseases. There is the need to improve public health intervention and health education among the rural masses in the Mount Cameroon region.

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Section: The Ecological and Social Context Of Mount Cameroon Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Ecological and Social Context Of Mount Cameroon Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The bat meat chain and perceptions of the risk of contracting Ebola in the Mount Cameroon region

Akem

Pemunta

2020

BMC Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Human-wildlife (including bat) contact increases the risk of zoonotic pathogens in the MCR. Colonies of straw-colored (Eidolon helvum) and Epomophorus gambianus fruit bats have been identified as living in close proximity with humans [20][21][22][23] providing ecosystem services for residents but also transmitting diseases to humans (''ecosystems disservice'') [24]. Colonies of bats live in fruit trees including among others mango (Mangifera indica), guava (Psidium guajava) and pawpaw (Carica papaya) [24] around homesteads, in farms and in the forest.…”

Section: Fig1: Map Of Cameroon Showing the Mcnp Region --------------mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, the people's main activity of subsistent and largescale agriculture expose them to scratching, bites, urine and droppings of bats. A combination of changes in human behaviour (underpinned by increasing human populations) and the spatial expansion of plantation agriculture by the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), Del Monte Inc and private individuals, direct contact with bats through hunting, selling, and/or eating might provide great opportunity for zoonotic transmissions [21] This is the case of Cameroon's Southwest Region [16] in general and the MCR in particular where there is the growing of palm oil, banana, rubber, tea, cocoa and subsistent food crops of up to 50 hectare in size [13]. Fruit trees in farms and mountain caves provide roosts for significant colonies of fruit bats and avenues for human-bat contact that seem, as reported by health workers, to partly account for the high numbers of patients suffering from fevers and rabies in the area.…”

Section: Fig1: Map Of Cameroon Showing the Mcnp Region --------------mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Bat Meat Chain and Perceptions of the risk of contracting Ebola in the Mount Cameroon Region

Akem

Pemunta

2020

Preprint

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Background Local people’s interaction with bats render them vulnerable to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). This paper examines perceptions of risk involved in the hunting, handling, processing and consumption of bat meat in the Mount Cameroon region of Southwest Cameroon. It focuses on the myriad cultural beliefs, gendered patterns of activity and institutional arrangements in which the bat meat production chain is embedded. Methods We conducted 30 ethnographic interviews with a sample of purposively selected men and women involved in the bat meat trade. The interviews were tape recorded, transcribed verbatim and inductive analysis was performed on the data. Findings The findings suggests that more urban men than villagers and hunters consume bat meat. Different practices and behaviours expose the mostly uneducated, young, single men and women to the risk of Ebola infection depending on their differential level of intervention in the human-bat interaction and value chain linking hunters, sellers and customers. The killing of bats with the mouth during hunting expose hunters (young men) while the preparation of bat carcasses for consumption also put women, (mostly young and unmarried) at risk. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the complexity and nuances of gender, poverty and Ebola outcomes predispose some marginal groups to the risk of infection with zoonotic diseases. There is the need to improve public health intervention and health education among the rural masses in the Mount Cameroon region.

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Knowledge, perceptions, and exposure to bats in communities living around bat roosts in Bundibugyo district, Uganda: implications for viral haemorrhagic fever prevention and control

Ninsiima,

Nyakarahuka,

Kisaka

et al. 2024

BMC Infect Dis

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Background Bats are a reservoir for many viruses causing haemorrhagic fevers. Proximity to bats is a risk factor for virus spillover to animals and humans. We conducted this study to assess knowledge, perceptions, and exposure to bats in communities living near bat roosts in Bundibugyo District, Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional study using mixed methods with both quantitative and qualitative data was conducted between September and December 2022. Participants for the quantitative data (survey) (n = 384) resided near bat caves and/or roost sites and were selected using multistage random sampling. The survey investigated participants’ prior exposure to bats, as well as knowledge and perceptions of bat exposure. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with bat exposure. Participants for the qualitative data (focus group discussions) (n = 10, 6–8 participants each) were purposely selected based on engagement in guano mining, hunting, and farming activities. Perceived risk associated with bat-related activities were identified and ranked in the focus group discussions using participatory epidemiology tools. Results In total, (214/384, 55.7%) had a history of bat exposure and (208/384, 54.2%) had poor knowledge of risk factors associated with bat exposure. Increased exposure to bats was associated with being male (OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.0, 2.4 p-value = 0.038), staying in urban areas (OR = 1.9; p-value = 0.010), hunting (OR = 10.9; p-value = 0.024), and positive perception to bat guano being safe as fertiliser (OR = 2.5; p-value = 0.045). During the proportional piling process, a total of 7 risk factors were identified by 10 groups with hunting during an outbreak and consumption of bats being the most frequently identified. Overall, there was a strong statistical agreement in the ranking across the 10 focus groups (W = 0.52; p < 0.01; n = 10). Based on the provided data, the adjusted odds ratio of 0.7 for the good measures (p-value = 0.112), suggests a potential protective effect on the risk of bat exposure. Conclusion Communities living around bat roosts frequently come into contact with bats, yet there is inadequate awareness regarding the behaviors that can lead to the transmission of bat- borne diseases to humans. It is essential to undertake educational initiatives and preventive measures to minimise the risks of bat-related infections. The need for targeted health communication and education efforts to address these knowledge gaps and promote an accurate understanding of bats and disease transmission. Understanding of diseases associated with bats will minimize bat-related health risks especially in communities engaged in wildlife hunting.

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An Assessment of the Conservation Attitude towards Bats in Bamenda City, Northwest Region, Cameroon

Cited by 3 publications

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The bat meat chain and perceptions of the risk of contracting Ebola in the Mount Cameroon region

The bat meat chain and perceptions of the risk of contracting Ebola in the Mount Cameroon region

The Bat Meat Chain and Perceptions of the risk of contracting Ebola in the Mount Cameroon Region

Knowledge, perceptions, and exposure to bats in communities living around bat roosts in Bundibugyo district, Uganda: implications for viral haemorrhagic fever prevention and control

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