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International Journal Of Rural Development, Environment And Health Research(IJREH)

An Exploration of Bats Consumption Behaviour and the Awareness of Zoonotic Diseases in Bamenda, Northwest Region, Cameroon

Melle Ekane Maurice , Nkwatoh Athanasius Fuashi , Olle Ambe Flaubert , Ekabe Quenter Mbinde , Chah Nestor Mbah


International Journal of Rural Development, Environment and Health Research(IJREH), Vol-1,Issue-3, September - October 2017, Pages 89-101, 10.22161/ijreh.1.3.10

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The recent increase in zoonotic viral disease outbreaks among humans have mainly been accounted to human bushmeat consumption. Many of the recently emerging highly virulent zoonotic diseases like Ebola have a likely bat origin. The study has shown a significant relationship, X2 = 23.870 df = 1 at P < 0.05 on the killing of bats due to their zoonotic diseases. Inaddition, the study revealed a positive correlation, R2 = 0.972 at P = 0.05 on bats killing due to their nuisance. The research has also shown a significant relationship, X2 = 10.848 df = 3 at P = 0.013 on the killing of bats to control their population. The research has shown a correlation R2 = 0.312 at P < 0.05 on the prevention of bats population increase. The results further revealed that bats are well known (54.23%) in zoonotic disease transmission. Moreso, the study showed that many people kill these animals for food (51.41%) though they know very well that they might be infected with zoonotic diseases by eating them. Educational efforts are needed in order to prevent future spillovers of bat-borne viruses to humans, and to further protect bats from unnecessary and destruction. The national government of Cameroon can use the prevention of bats consumption campaigns due to their zoonotic infection to enhance the conservation of bats.

Ebola, Zoonotic diseases, Bat consumption, disease transmission, Conservation.

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