Avoiding bites and scratches? Understanding the public health implication of human–bat interactions in Ghana

Abstract

Zoonotic pathogens cause an estimated 70% of emerging and re‐emerging infectious diseases in humans, affecting various aspects of human development on a global scale. The significance of bats as a source of emerging infectious diseases is being progressively appreciated. This study was undertaken post‐Ebola virus disease in West Africa and assessed the public health implications of human–bat interactions by exploring the reasons for contact between humans and bats, as well as reported actions taken upon experiencing bat bites or scratches. The paper highlights the nuances of human–bat interactions, stressing zoonotic disease risk awareness as well as the sources of information. The study used questionnaires to solicit information from 788 respondents in five communities with significant bat populations. We show that bat consumption was one of the main reasons for human–bat interactions. More men across the various communities ate bat meat. Only a small number of respondents (4.4%) reported being bitten by a bat, and 6.1% had been scratched by a bat. More than 21% had come into direct contact with bat blood. An even lower number went to the hospital after been bitten or scratched by bats. There was little knowledge on post‐exposure management. The most common places human–bat interactions occurred were at home and on farms. Seventy‐three per cent of the respondents believed that bats carried diseases, with Ebola virus disease being the most mentioned. Respondents indicated that the way they interacted with bats had not changed, even though they believed bats carried diseases and 46% stated that they had not changed the way they interacted with bats over the last two years. Apart from providing information on avoiding bites and scratches, a more holistic framework is needed to reduce human–bat interactions. The paper recommends a comprehensive and coordinated approach to optimizing an effective response to a potential bat‐borne zoonotic disease spillover.

Overview of Bat and Wildlife Coronavirus Surveillance in Africa: A Framework for Global Investigations

“…Different cultures have multifaceted perspectives concerning bats, which may be shaped by the local beliefs, use in traditional medicine, knowledge of bat biology, disease risk, or change during periods of food shortages [ 141 , 142 , 143 , 144 ]. Though limited information is available in Africa, several recent studies have considered the risk perceptions of human populations to bats and their associations with zoonotic diseases [ 142 , 143 , 144 , 145 , 146 , 147 ]. Overall, the results suggest that communities have limited knowledge of bats and do not generally perceive bats as a threat [ 142 , 143 , 145 ].…”

Perception and attitudes of local communities towards vertebrate fauna in the Andes of Colombia: Effects of gender and the urban/rural setting

“…Still, their inconspicuous appearance generates fear and disgust, added to the misinformation in the media and social networks that allows them to generate negative perceptions and attitudes, a future problem if comprehensive conservation strategies are to be generated (Knight 2008;Kunz et al 2011;Paterson et al 2014;Ramírez-Fráncel et al 2021;Rego et al 2015). Bats can transmit rabies to humans and farm animals (Lawson et al 2019;Rocha et al 2021). Bats are reservoir hosts for pathogenic viruses such as the Australian bat lyssavirus (Pteropus alecto), which has caused several deaths in people in the state of New South Wales and other towns in the country (Paterson et al 2014).…”

“…In Ghana, bats are used for consumption and hunting. This is a fairly common activity among the area's inhabitants; however, the people's low awareness about the consequences of these interactions has given way to devastating spillover events such as the Ebola outbreak in 2014 (Lawson et al 2019). In addition to this, erroneous communications on social networks and the media have mentioned that bats caused the COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased the general public´s negative perception towards these species (Lu et al 2021;MacFarlane and Rock 2020).…”

Survey of euthanasia methods used in neotropical chiropterans in São Paulo State, Brazil

“…The interaction between these mammals and humans is unusual, but it occurs more frequently during the blood meal of vampire bats, by bat invasion of human habitation, or by the uncommon consumption of bat meat, with very few reports in Brazil (Lawson et al, 2019;Li et al, 2019;Setz & Sazima, 1987). Despite infrequent contact, this interaction can be important and enough to transmit rabies to humans and domestic animals (Benavides et al, 2020;Castilho et al, 2017).…”