Exotic pet markets in your town could seriously damage your health!
A new independent scientific study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine has concluded that reptile and amphibian markets in the UK and elsewhere in Europe ‘constitute a significant and major public health concern’. The findings confirm the risks to visitors, but go further to state that there is no need to visit an exotic pet market in order to be contaminated and potentially infected!
Independent scientists, specialised in reptile and amphibian biology and public health, conducted the study in 2011 at markets in the UK, Germany and Spain. They carried out observations of visitor behaviour to assess the potential risk of germs transferring from animals to people. The results showed that, within a relatively brief period, all attendees were potentially subject to some level of contamination. Visitors to a pet market could then leave the venue, carrying with them (e.g. on their clothes and hair) a host of germs ‘with the potential to spread disease far beyond the source of original contamination’. The authors warned of the health hazards associated with hiring out venues such as schools and leisure centres for exotic pet markets where germs may persist for weeks or months after the event.
UK organisations, the Animal Protection Agency and International Animal Rescue, commissioned the study along with several other European animal protection groups. Poor animal welfare at pet markets has long been a concern following countless investigations of these events. It is also well established that animals suffering from stress are more likely to succumb to and spread disease, but this new study makes clear that exotic pet markets are also a potential disaster for public health.
In the UK, trading in exotic pets at markets was outlawed in 1983, but on the Continent these events are still legal. Although banned in the UK, there are a handful of events that still take place due to poor local authority enforcement. Two of these events are in council-owned leisure centres (the Glades Leisure Centre in Kidderminster and the Havant Leisure Centre in Portsmouth) and pose a particular risk to vulnerable community members such as children and the elderly. Other events are staged in racecourse venues (Kempton Park and Doncaster) which put race-goers and other venue users at risk and an agricultural showground (Norfolk Showground), which boasts over 100,000 visitors per year. There is an obvious increased risk to venue users who consume food on these premises during or following the events.
Reptile and amphibian dealers continue to play down the risks to public health and claim that anti-bacterial hand gels offer sufficient protection against infection. The study shows, however, that this is not the case and that pet markets represent an ‘unresolvable’ health risk to people.
Commissioners of the study, which include major European organisations, made the following statements:
“We are hoping that local councils and venue managers take heed of this study and protect public health as well as animal welfare by disallowing exotic pet markets on their premises.” Elaine Toland of the Animal Protection Agency (UK)
“This study shows, yet again, that the health and welfare of animals is often closely linked with that of people. Exotic pet markets are clearly bad for both.” Alan Knight of International Animal Rescue (UK)
“There is much talk in Germany regarding the serious animal and human health problems inherent to reptile markets. This study shows very clearly that public health risks are ‘unresolvable’.”
Laura Zimprich of Animal Public (Germany)
"Exotic pet markets in Germany are highly unregulated and the suffering caused to animals is obvious. This paper throws new light on the associated health risks to people from these events for which the only sensible safeguard would be an outright ban." Nadja Kutscher of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Germany)
“I’ve witnessed, first hand, large numbers of animals in Spanish pet markets. Given the poor and overcrowded conditions, it is little wonder that disease can spread so easily between animals, and then from animals to people.” Jennifer Berengueras of Fundación para la adopción, apadrinamiento y defensa de los animals (Spain)
Note to Editors:
- Original article: Warwick, C., Arena, P.C., and Steedman, C. (2012) Visitor behaviour and public health implications associated with exotic pet markets: an observational study J R Soc Med Sh Rep 2012;3:63. DOI 10.1258/shorts.2012.012012 http://shortreports.rsmjournals.com/content/3/9/63.full.pdf+html
- For further information or images, please contact Elaine Toland on 01273 674253 or out of hours on 07986 535024. We have an ISDN line for broadcast-quality interviews.
- The study was funded by the Animal Protection Agency, Animal Public (Germany), Eurogroup for Animals (Belgium), Eurogroup for Wildlife and Laboratory Animals (Belgium), Fundación para la adopción, apadrinamiento y defensa de los animals (Spain), International Animal Rescue (UK), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Germany).
Animal Protection Agency
Brighton Media Centre, 15-17 Middle Street, Brighton BN1 1AL
Tel: 01273 674253
info@apa.org.uk
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