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

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.