Project Title: Surveillance for Emerging Zoonotic Disease Threats and Behavioural Risk Characterization in High-risk Communities in Tanzania

Project Description: "The project’s main objectives are: 1) To detect and characterize new and known viruses of epidemic and pandemic potential in high-risk communities and patients admitted to hospitals. 2) To identify biological, behavioral and ecological factors influencing the risk of viral spillover, amplification and spread. 3) To determine potential targets for intervention based on high-risk human behaviors and practices that amplify disease transmission in hotspots for viral evolution, spillover, amplification and spread. For Tanzania, this project... "The project’s main objectives are: 1) To detect and characterize new and known viruses of epidemic and pandemic potential in high-risk communities and patients admitted to hospitals. 2) To identify biological, behavioral and ecological factors influencing the risk of viral spillover, amplification and spread. 3) To determine potential targets for intervention based on high-risk human behaviors and practices that amplify disease transmission in hotspots for viral evolution, spillover, amplification and spread. For Tanzania, this project is being implemented in the North West (lakezone) regions: Kigoma (Ujiji municipal, villages in Uvinza district and villages in Kibondo district) and Kagera (villages in Kyerwa district). Approximately 4860 individuals (Adults 18yrs or older, and Children 2-17yrs of age) are to be enrolled over the course of the project. The research subjects are enrolled in two settings: i) Community sampling: Ethnographic Interviews/Focus group discussions and Human Questionnaires + Biological Samples (Whole blood, Serum, Stool, Urine and Swabs-oral+nasal) Target: People living in, working in, or visiting targeted high-risk communities who have contact with wildlife and livestock. (Examples: Hunters, Farmers-animal production business, Farmers-crop production and bee hive keepers, Meat processors-slaughterhouses/abattoirs, Wildlife restaurant business, Hospital or Clinic health professionals etc. ii) Patients at health centers presenting with disease symptoms of unknown origin: Human Questionnaires + Biological Samples (Whole blood, Serum, Stool, Urine and Swabs-oral+ nasal) Target: Patients with fever ≥38°C, presenting clinical symptoms of Influenza Like Illnesses (ILI), Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses (SARI), Fevers of Unknown Origin (FUO) and Hemorrhagic disease. " Read more

Principal Investigator : Honorati Masanja

Department Name : BRCT

Time frame: (2016-06-13) - (2020-03-19)

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