The risk of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) for human societies is real: outbreaks of avian influenza, SARS- and, MERS-CoV, Ebola viruses or yet the newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 are the most well-known recent examples of EIDs which emerged locally with a subsequent large scale geographical spread due to our increasingly interconnected world. The majority of EIDs are the result of direct or indirect cross-species transmissions from wildlife to humans. Bats and rodents are the two most diverse and widely distributed mammal orders, accounting for more than 60% of all known mammals’ species. They are natural reservoirs of numerous zoonotic viruses, which dramatically impact human and animal health worldwide. Human populations often consume or live in proximity of these small mammal species and are therefore directly or indirectly exposed by their pathogens.

"The project VICTORIA aims to better understand cross-species viral transmission and risks of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in southern Africa by exploring the circulation of three families of viruses within, but also between bats and rodents." (IRD)

"The project VICTORIA addresses the issue with a One Health perspective, involving intersectoral research (animal and public health) and using an interdisciplinary approach by combining virological, ecological, epidemiological, genetic and social science (anthropology) investigations." (IRD)

"In the frame of the project, three master students (3 MPhil/MSc), two in Zimbabwe (Laboratory and Social Sciences) and one in South Africa (Centre for Viral Zoonoses) will be trained. A PhD student (University of Pretoria) will be full-time involved in the project." (IRD)

[read more, source: Institut de Recherche pour le Developpment]