PRedictiNG Zoonotic Outbreaks
Recent outbreaks of zoonoses such as Ebola virus disease and COVID-19 have demonstrated the need for improving predictions for resource allocation and outbreak preparedness. Therefore, we created a collaboration with national researchers and policymakers in Cameroon to integrate local knowledge into predictions for emerging viruses, enabling research to be translated into policies that may limit future outbreaks.
Related publications:
Judson, S.D, et al. (2017). Translating Predictions of Zoonotic Viruses for Policymakers. EcoHealth.
Vulnerability for Emerging Infections
At the beginning of the pandemic of COVID-19, there were many questions regarding the regional differences in risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Building off of our collaboration in Cameroon, we created early vulnerability indices for COVID-19 in Cameroon with regards to epidemiological risk factors and healthcare access. We compared these indices with cases from weekly situation reports in Cameroon.
We further compared COVID-19 data reporting systems across African countries to determine whether there were data available to create vulnerability assessments for other countries. We found that African countries have diverse COVID-19 data reporting systems. These national data reporting systems are important for transmitting data during pandemics that researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the general public can use.
Related publications:
Judson SD, Njabo KY, Torimiro JN. (2020). Regional vulnerability for COVID-19 in Cameroon. Pan Afr Med J. 2020;37. doi:10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.37.1.26167.