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Wildlife trade, insurgency fuel risk of new disease outbreaks in Nigeria, expert warns – EnviroNews
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Nigeria faces an increasing risk of emerging infectious diseases if illegal wildlife trade, environmental degradation, and insecurity are not urgently addressed, wildlife veterinarian and conservation expert, Dr. Mark Ofua, has warned.
Speaking during a media briefing organised by Wild Africa ahead of World Zoonoses Day, Dr. Ofua said zoonotic diseases – that is illnesses transmitted between animals and humans – remain one of the greatest global public health threats, particularly as new pathogens continue to emerge from wildlife.
This year’s World Zoonoses Day is themed “One World, One Health: Prevent Zoonoses,” highlighting the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
“We should not think these diseases have disappeared,” Dr. Ofua said. “The message this year is vigilance. Zoonotic diseases are still with us, and we must remain prepared.”
New diseases pose greater danger
According to Dr. Ofua, while many zoonotic diseases such as rabies, anthrax and brucellosis have known treatments or preventive measures, the greatest concern lies in newly emerging diseases from the wild and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections.
He explained that over 60 percent of infectious diseases affecting humans originated from animals, but warned that pathogens resistant to available antibiotics could become the next global health crisis.
“AMR is already being described as a silent pandemic,” he said. “These are infections caused by organisms that were once easily treated but have developed resistance to available antibiotics. When they infect people, treatment becomes extremely difficult.”
Recalling a case in Lagos, Dr. Ofua described how a pharmacist nearly died after common antibiotics failed to treat an infection caused by a resistant organism.
Lassa fever remains a major concern
Among Nigeria’s current zoonotic threats, Dr. Ofua identified Lassa fever as one of the country’s biggest public health concerns.
He noted that while Nigeria has developed some level of preparedness for known diseases such as cholera, Ebola and mpox, emerging diseases remain a significant threat because health authorities may not detect them early.
“The diseases we know are easier to prepare for,” he said. “The danger is the unknown disease that enters the country unnoticed. By the time we discover it, hundreds or even thousands of people may already have been infected.”
Wildlife trade increases outbreak risks
Dr. Ofua warned that Nigeria’s thriving bushmeat trade significantly increases the likelihood of zoonotic disease transmission.
He explained that wild animals often carry pathogens without showing symptoms, but stress caused by trapping, transportation and overcrowding in markets can increase the virulence of those diseases.
“When animals are removed from the wild and mixed together in markets, pathogens have opportunities to jump between species,” he said. “People handling these animals often do so without protective equipment, increasing the chances of transmission.”
He further warned that wildlife imported through informal trade routes from Central Africa Republic into Nigeria could introduce dangerous pathogens long before authorities detect them.
“Government focuses heavily on airports, but infected wildlife can travel through bushmeat trade routes across borders without any monitoring,” he said.
Insurgency worsening health risks
Dr. Ofua also linked Nigeria’s growing insecurity to increased public health risks.
He said forests occupied by bandits have become inaccessible to conservation workers, allowing illegal wildlife hunting and trafficking to flourish.
According to him, insurgents often depend on wildlife for food and income, increasing human contact with wild animals and creating opportunities for disease spillover.
“There is a direct connection between insecurity, illegal wildlife trade and zoonotic diseases,” he said. “The same criminal networks involved in wildlife trafficking often overlap with other organised crimes.”
He added that conflict also prevents authorities from monitoring wildlife populations and containing potential outbreaks at their source.
Nature itself helps control disease
Beyond disease surveillance, Dr. Ofua argued that biodiversity conservation should be viewed as a public health intervention.
He explained that predators and scavengers such as snakes, owls, vultures and cats naturally regulate rodent populations that spread diseases like Lassa fever and leptospirosis.
According to him, indiscriminate killing of wildlife, widespread use of rodenticides and excessive fumigation disrupt these natural ecological processes.
“When we destroy nature, we destroy our first line of defence,” he said. “Keep wildlife wild, and keep humans safe.”
He cited India’s successful reduction of rabies cases after protecting vulture populations, which naturally dispose of animal carcasses before stray dogs can feed on them and spread disease.
Call for stronger public awareness
While acknowledging that government agencies have statutory responsibility for environmental protection and disease awareness, Dr. Ofua said civil society organisations, journalists and conservation groups must continue educating the public.
“I think it behoves all of us to keep speaking about these dangers,” he said. “When outbreaks occur, they affect everyone, not just government.”
He called for stronger regulation of wildlife trade, improved environmental protection, increased public awareness and wider adoption of the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal and environmental health in disease prevention.
“The health of people cannot be separated from the health of animals and the environment,” he said. “Protecting wildlife is ultimately about protecting ourselves.”
By Omowumi Abraham