Work

Reducing Biosecurity Risks in Informal Poultry Slaughter: A Pilot Intervention Among Mobile Poultry Vendors in Bangladesh

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: Introduction Mobile poultry vending and slaughtering practices in Bangladesh pose potential public health risks due to poor hygiene, unsafe waste disposal, and close human-animal interactions. Limited data exist on these practices and feasible interventions to improve biosecurity among mobile poultry vendors. Methods This mixed-method study was conducted in three phases across four sub-districts in three districts. Phase 1 involved 416 hours of structured observation, 40 in-depth vendor interviews, and 40 informal customer interviews. Phase 2 involved the development and pilot testing of an intervention package, including poultry killing cones, hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and a hygiene pamphlet, with 10 vendors. Phase 3 implemented the intervention among 20 vendors for one month, followed by 94 hours of observation and 17 customer interviews. Result Phase 1 found 1,959 slaughtering events with no use of personal protective equipment; slaughtering occurred in plastic jars (58%), directly on roads (21%), and roadside drains (11%). Seventy percent of vendors reported discarding slaughtering waste directly into the environment, while 78% reported not knowing how poultry diseases could spread to other animals or humans. During Phase 2, 9/10 vendors considered the killing cone useful, although bicycle users reported challenges related to weight and balance; the cone was subsequently modified. During Phase 3, 294 poultry were observed being slaughtered, with 79% using killing cones. Waste was stored in cone-attached boxes in 97% of cone uses, and vendors used hand sanitizer before eating in 75% of observed instances. Among 17 interviewed customers, 88% recognized the cone’s role in safer waste disposal and 53% considered it useful overall. Conclusion This study highlights major hygiene and biosecurity gaps and demonstrates that low-cost, targeted interventions may improve biosecurity practices among mobile poultry vendors and reduce opportunities for environmental contamination in informal slaughter settings.

Source: medRxiv

DOI: 10.64898/2026.11.05.26367345