Animals: Best to keep an eye on them?
On World Wildlife Day, one of many organizations interested in nature, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), took the day to point out that in times when five new human infectious diseases surface on Earth each year, on average, and when three of those originate from animals, it's more important than ever for us to learn as much as we can about animals and know their population health levels.
They make the point that preserving animal health is to ensure our own future health.
While the group didn't mention it specifically, these are definitely times when fungal diseases are on the rise among wildlife in general. Chytrid is devastating certain amphibians, whitenose syndrome is killing bats, and Snake Fungal Disease is eliminating certain kinds of snakes. All of these animals are important in their ecosystems, and it is also vital for humans to keep track of these diseases.
Also, animal- or insect-borne diseases include not only Ebola, but the wide range of Zika and Dengue fever from mosquitoes; Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever from ticks; Salmonella from handling baby snakes, chickens or turtles. Also, there is an E. coli risk from working with dairy cattles, who sometimes have E. coli on their udders.
In 2015, the OIE and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) signed an agreement to collaborate to build biodiversity by using surveillance and disease control measures. The plan is to use those to ensure legal international trade and transport of wild animals listed by CITES, as well as the safe, quick transport of samples for biology regarding these animals -- for diagnosis or identification. The focus too is on controlling invasive species.
Also working toward these aims, among many groups, is the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW), a group of international organizations in partnership. CPW has a number of mandates and programs that work toward conserving wildlife resources. The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) is also working on a program to train
hunters in early detection, reporting and management of diseases affecting wildlife.
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