Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Role of Public Health Ministries
Chapter 7
referred to research on measles in free-ranging macaques, contrast-
ing the seroprevalence of measles antibody among rhesus macaques in Nepal,
a country with relatively low immunization rates, compared to Singapore, a
country with high rates of immunization. An effective public health system
that maintains high immunization levels among human populations is likely
to protect commensal macaque populations from infections, such as measles.
Good nutrition and healthcare are also effective barriers to diseases such as
tuberculosis in the human population, and by extension, in primate popula-
tions. However, improvements in vaccination and nutrition do not occur over-
night, or at low cost. From the perspective of preventing the spread of disease
from humans to macaque populations, prioritizing those individuals most
likely to have contact with macaques for immunization should be considered.
Investments in public health infrastructure may have positive “spin off” effects
for populations of macaques.
Communication between health professionals (i.e., public health officials,
physicians, nurses, veterinarians) and those responsible for managing macaque
populations (i.e., government ministries including forestry, wildlife, and envir-
onment) and others (e.g., ministries of tourism) is a potentially powerful tool
to promote health. The detection of emerging patterns of disease (e.g., a flu
epidemic) in the human population may have significant implications for the
health of macaque populations and vice versa. An interlinked system of health
information has the capacity to inform and coordinate efforts to both conserve
macaque populations and protect public health.
The contribution of public health agencies extends beyond prevention
of infectious diseases. For example, environmental pollution is a widely
acknowledged threat to human populations. By extension, toxic substances in
the environment (e.g., lead, mercury, and insecticides) may also harm synan-
thropic macaques, though there is scant research in this area. As synanthropic
macaques show promise as possible sentinels for human exposure to envir-
onmental toxins, this is another potential area of linkage between primate
conservationists, public health organizations, and the medical and veterinary
fields (Engel
et al
.,
2009
).
Managing interface zones: The role of governance
Among stakeholders at the human-macaque interface, governments are key
players, capable of enacting and enforcing policies, as well as creating infra-
structure and altering the landscape. The government's role in managing the
