Policy and human behavioural strategies to mitigate zoonotic disease emergence in southern China

The risk of emerging zoonotic diseases is a significant public health concern in southern China, however, risk factors that contribute to the spillover of zoonotic pathogens are poorly understood, hampering the development of effective strategies for risk mitigation. To address this gap, a series of studies were conducted to understand the roles of human behaviour and policies in zoonotic disease emergence, targeting communities in Yunnan, Guangdong, and Guangxi provinces in southern China. The studies employed mixed methods to collect qualitative, quantitative, and biological data to understand the zoonotic disease emergence risk at different human-animal interfaces, aiming to develop strategy targeting behaviours and policies to mitigate the risk. Community ethnographic interviews and observations explored and highlighted the relations between zoonotic risks and human behaviour, environment, and policies in rural communities in southern China. The following biological-behavioural surveillance provided serological evidence of bat coronavirus spillover in rural communities in Southern China and identified the associations between wild animal contact and severe acute respiratory infection or influenza-like illness symptoms. Two online surveys to assess the knowledge, perceived disease risks, behaviours, and beliefs related to zoonotic disease risk in wildlife trade revealed the existing wild animal human contact in southern China in wildlife trade with a low level of knowledge and perceived risk regarding disease emergence. Key beliefs and control points to influence wildlife consumption were identified as future risk mitigation entry points. Finally, a review of current laws, regulations, and policy documents across forestry, agriculture, and public health authorities in China indicated that the current zoonotic disease monitoring system covers a limited scope of disease threats and animal. The governance of wild animal protection and utilization, as well as limited knowledge about wild animal trade value chains, presented challenges for zoonotic disease risk assessment and monitoring and affect the completeness of mandates and enforcement. These findings can inform the targeted surveillance in high-risk geographic areas and populations to establish an early warning and prevention system. The understanding of risk factors for zoonotic disease emergence will also guide the development of context-based strategies to reduce zoonotic risk at the high-risk human-animal interfaces. Effective emerging infectious disease response, preparedness, and prevention relies on the coordination and collaboration across different disciplines, sectors, and countries.