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 infection in children and their parents. Furthermore, we studied two dimensions of human-rodent encounters: 1) space-time of interaction and 2) factors that allowed the interaction to occur and their materiality. This approach allowed us to contextualize child-rodent contacts beyond domestic limits in the fallow fields, swamps, and at other times for this practice. A close look at these encounters provided information on rodent trapping, killing, and manipulation of cooking techniques and the risk these activities posed for the primary transmission of LASV. This research facilitated the understanding of children’s exposure to M. natalensis during hunting sessions and the importance of rodent hunting, which is a part of their boyish identity in rural areas. Determination of when, where, why, and how children, rodents, and environments interacted allowed us to understand the exposures and risks important for human and animal surveillance programs in the Lassa-endemic region.

Author summary

Hunting and animal handling by children are considered important aspects of zoonosis occurrence. Children are implicated as the high-risk group for Lassa spillover. In a context where public health interventions pay little attention to the role of children in the occurrence of zoonotic infections, we conducted a qualitative study to explore factors that motivate children to hunt and eat rodents and to understand the practices that may constitute pathways of Lassa virus primary transmission in the endemic area of Faranah, Upper-Guinea. Moreover, we sought to extend the anthropological analysis of human–animal interactions to children who hunt, as researchers are gaining interest in exploring their hunting practices for the origins of zoonotic diseases. Our findings highlight the sociocultural, economic, and environmental dimensions of childhood and generate policies and interventions on the roles children can play in the primary transmission of zoonotic diseases to humans. These insights may aid in planning prevention programs for zoonotic infections in Lassa fever-endemic areas.