Hunting and consumption of rodents by children in the Lassa fever endemic area of Faranah, Guinea.

ABSTRACT: As a consequence of the Ebola outbreak, human-animal contact has gained importance for zoonotic transmission surveillance. In Faranah (Upper Guinea), daily life is intertwined with rodents, such as the Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis; a reservoir for Lassa virus (LASV). However, this contact is rarely perceived as a health risk by residents, although Lassa fever (LF) is known to be endemic to this region. Conversely, these observations remain a great concern for global health agendas. Drawing on ethnographic research involving interviews, focus group discussions, participant observations, and informal discussions over four months, we first identified factors that motivated children to hunt and consume rodents in Faranah villages, and thereafter, explored the knowledge of LF i

SUBMITTER: Douno M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7968712 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature