One of the reasons for this gap in knowledge is a lack of suitable serological tests validated across the more common species. Mastomys natalensis is the primary reservoir of LF 16,17, however, two other species, Mastomys erytholeucus and Hylomyscus pamfi were recently identified as a reservoir of LFV 18,19.ĭomestic (cattle, sheep, goats) and peri-domestic (cats and dogs) animals are exposed to rodents 3 but little is known whether they can be infected, and might be a source of infection or a bridge host. Other bridge species are not known currently. Human to human transmission can occur occasionally in hospital settings and in community 7,12,13. Humans are believed to get the infections through touching objects contaminated with rodent urine, breathing aerosolised particles, being bitten by rodents or consuming rodents 9–11. However, in the last 35 years, the population of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has doubled and crop production has intensified in the entire region resulting in severe damage to forests and ecosystems 8. Based on studies in 1980’s LF affects around 200,000-300,000 people and causes 5000-10,000 human death each year in West Africa 7. The disease is endemic in West Africa including Nigeria (Nig) and Sierra Leone (SL) 2–6. Lassa fever (LF) is a viral zoonotic illness caused by an arenavirus and is responsible for severe haemorrhagic fever characterised by fever, muscle aches, vomiting, chest and abdominal pain with several complication including deafness1. Using both developed and novel serology and antigen/genome diagnostic tools provide a baseline of likely host pathogen community prevalence’s in West Africa and explore associations with various socioecological risk factors. The RVC is coordinating work on establishing a valid cross species serological test protocol for target diseases in animals (domestic and wild) to improve epidemiological surveillance including for Lassa fever and monkeypox. Work is to be extended through an IDRC funded project in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria on COVID, monkeypox and Lassa Fever 2021-2024. During COVID, the team has worked extensively on collaborating partner data sources from Lockdown Studies (with Queen Mary’s University), on publicly available covid case and epidemiological data to determine risk factors and provide commentary on zoonotic origins that are proposed for this emergent human pathogen. retrospective and socioecological studies SES), and vector borne diseases: Rift Valley fever, dengue, zika and chikungunya virus (outbreak studies and SES) and, anthrax and tuberculosis (exploratory and surveys) in sub-Saharan African countries (Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Sudan and Republic of Congo). The RVC team has been working since 2018 collaboratively within the PANDORA partnership on a range of bacterial and viral diseases with zoonotic origins or true zoonoses, including: Lassa fever and Monkeypox (prospective. Joint Tripartite” (FAO, OIE, WHO) and UNEP Statement Tripartite and UNEP support OHHLEP’s definition of “One Health” 2021. The approach mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines and communities at varying levels of society to work together to foster well-being and tackle threats to health and ecosystems, while addressing the collective need for clean water, energy and air, safe and nutritious food, taking action on climate change, and contributing to sustainable development. It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and inter-dependent. “One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. The One Health approach proposes a solution to this gap in health and disease knowledge and management and defined as: The emergence pathways are complex and current health systems are poorly equipped to investigate and respond to these infections arising from a variety of human, animal and environment sources. The PANDORA programme involves a consortium of partners in Europe and Africa working with a One Health Approach to prepare African countries to improve knowledge, preparedness and response to emerging infectious disease challenges. The villagers and village chief at Sumalata Village, Kenama, Sierra Leone, November 2021 Challenge PANDORA is the core programme and other projects have arisen from this platform, including a Queen Mary’s led UKRI GCRF COVID Lockdown Project and an IDRC funded West-African One-Health Action for Mitigating Outbreaks project. The PANDORA programme is about understanding the socio-ecological drivers of emerging zoonosis and persistence of transboundary pathogens at human/environment/wildlife/domestic animal interfaces in contrasted landscapes as a means to trial novel veterinary, medical and preventive solutions.
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