Mpox: Kenyans cautioned against consuming bush meat

Maasai morans roast meat in the bushes at Ewuaso in Kajiado during a cultural ceremony. [File, Standard]

Kenyans have been urged to desist from handling or consuming bush meat to avoid possible contraction of Mpox disease.

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano says although reported cases remain isolated, the prevailing situation foreshadows potential eruption if cautionary counsel goes unheeded.

In a public advisory to newsrooms, Miano said the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in conjunction with the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) has been working closely with the Directorate of Veterinary Service and Ministry of Health under the One Health approach through the Zoonotic Technical Working Group to monitor the health status of both human and wildlife populations and are on high alert following reports of a recent Mpox outbreak in the region.

"As guided by medical and animal health experts, Mpox is a zoonotic viral disease meaning that it is communicable between wild animals and human beings. The spread of zoonotic ailments-bacterial, viral or parasitic-occurs through direct contact or through food, water or the environment and are of significant global public health concern," read part of the advisory.

Miano said the core axis of zoonotic afflictions involves interaction among human beings, livestock and wild animals.

"In this day and age of dire consequences of extreme climate change ebb and flow, host-vector-pathogen dynamics are likely to result in unprecedented disease emergence and re-emergence, thus making the call to stay away from bush meat urgent," she said.

According to Miano, aside from Monkey Pox popularly referred to as Mpox which has already been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation, there is an entire plethora of diseases portended by handling of or consuming bush meat.

These, she said include Coronavirus, Ebola, Salmonellosis, Rabies, Anthrax, Brucellosis, Rift Valley Fever, Swine Respiratory Disease, Myiasis, Avian Flu, Tetanus, Cysticercosis and more.

"The wide range of possible afflictions heralded by handling or consumption of bush meat alone is ample reason for all responsible Kenyans to completely avoid any incautious dalliance with wildlife now and in the future," she advised.

The CS said her ministry is on high alert and through its twin agencies (KWS and WRTI) it will continue to sensitise communities living adjacent to wildlife domiciles or alongside wildlife in conservancies and community areas on the need to keep away from bush meat poaching and hunting or handling meat from wild animals.

"In any event, the public ought to keep in mind that the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act No. 47 of 2013 prohibits bush meat poaching and hunting. For the record, bush meat poaching and hunting is a criminal offence punishable in law," said Miano.