Wildlife Trade in Lao PDR

Although illegal in Lao PDR, wildlife is still frequently traded in markets for consumption and medicinal use. As part of USAID PREDICT from 2010 to 2014 and the EU-funded LACANET project from 2014-2018, the WCS Wildlife Health Program has been collecting detailed inventories of wildlife species found on wildlife markets. We are working with laboratory partners to identify zoonotic pathogens in traded wildlife, focusing on priority pathogens (those causing a large proportion of febrile syndromes in hospitals in Lao PDR) or emerging pathogens (those representing a growing concern).

From this data, we will be able to quantify the level of wildlife harvest in Lao PDR, and the public health risk related to wildlife consumption.