Do not stamp the fever, the Brazilian massacre monkey

Currently, the yellow fever epidemic in Brazil has peaked with more than 200 deaths. People are afraid to kill thousands of monkeys because they think they are the cause of spreading the disease, making monkey species in this country are in danger of extinction.

When the disease broke out, the Brazilian countryside scattered dead bodies of monkeys falling from the tree, making people afraid. A town in Minas Gerais state had to close a park after discovering 38 monkeys died.

Yellow fever from Africa to South America during the slave trade of the 17th century. It spreads through mosquito bites . This mosquito also transmits Zika. Symptoms of yellow fever are high fever, chills and muscle aches. The disease has been the deadliest killer in Africa and has been paid for long. However, climate change and lack of vaccine have caused this disease to re-emerge from the beginning of 2017. While humans can prevent yellow fever with vaccines, monkey species in Brazil are not immune to this disease.

Monkeys in Brazil are in danger of extinction because people mistakenly believe they transmit yellow fever.(Photo: Getty Images).

After 11 people died of yellow fever in Ladainha, a town in the state of Minas, the people here started killing the monkeys in the area, shooting guns and beating them to death.In fact, this primate does not transmit disease, but plays a very important role in preventing the spread of disease. A dead monkey is often the first sign of a yellow fever epidemic in a new town, an alarm bell for authorities to direct the vaccination campaign. It is a warning sign for health authorities to monitor yellow fever before the disease strikes people.

Brazilian scientists are calling for an end to monkey massacre, otherwise it will cause an environmental disaster. The monkey monkey was the most heavily attacked, with more than 1,000 animals killed since January. When yellow fever spread to northern Brazil, scientists were particularly concerned that monkeys are in danger of extinction because of infection and being killed by humans. Fabiano Melo, a biologist at the Monkey Research Center in Brazil, said: "We are destroying biodiversity, while we can control this disease."

Brazilian police are investigating across the country and warning that anyone caught in the killing of primates will be prosecuted as an environmental crime. Brazil's environmental agency has partnered with animal rights organizations and research groups to raise public awareness.

Leandro Jerusalinski, head of the Brazilian Institute of Primate Conservation and Research, said: "We are trying to adjust the situation to help people understand that primates are not susceptible to disease. people, they are really the main victims of this pandemic ".

Brazil has the most primates in the world - more than 150 species. Monkeys in Brazil are often poached and traded. Serious deforestation in Brazil also negatively affects animals, including monkeys.