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Viral diseases continue to be a public health threat to humans. Humanity has been affected over the years by several pandemics associated with viruses, the most recent being COVID-19, caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). While these pandemics affect humanity globally, low- and middle-income countries are usually the most affected, especially those in Africa.
The African continent, especially the sub-Saharan part, represents a unique and complex environmental, economic, health system, and socio-political landscape which has favored the emergence, re-emergence, survival, and spread of viral infections. Most of these countries are characterized by poor sanitation conditions, at times with a complete lack of sanitary facilities and access to potable water for personal and household hygiene. Furthermore, most health systems in these countries are weak, usually due to a lack of finances and political will to invest in them. Moreover, social and cultural practices that allow constant interaction between humans, animals, and their environment increase the chances of infection.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic challenged health systems worldwide, even in developed countries, prompting the need to develop early warning systems to monitor present pandemics and prevent the emergence of new ones or the re-emergence of once-forgotten ones. Therefore, understanding the dynamics of viral disease emergence in the African continent is paramount to protecting the population from future epidemics and pandemics.
This book features a collection of research on various emerging and re-emerging viral agents emanating from Africa, which may involve new variants of known viruses or completely new agents; their peculiarities including their biology, pathogenesis, and mechanisms of adaptation in the environment; the role of climate change in disease emergence; drivers of zoonoses and transmission of these viral diseases between human and animal hosts; existing infrastructure including detection and diagnostic tools, health systems, and mitigators of viral diseases; challenges of implementing early warning systems and surveillance for viral disease outbreaks in Africa; the impact of viral infections on the continent's economy and the psychosocial impacts on its populations; and integrating the One Health approach to preventing disease outbreaks, spill-over, and pandemics with emphasis on sustainable participatory strategies to achieving overall human, animal, and environmental health. This book explores the human-animal-environment interface of viral diseases -- especially those with the potential to cause pandemics -- and their epidemiology & connection with the rapidly developing African continent. This book will spur discourse on improving research on the continent to inform science, One Health, and multi-dimensional approaches including sectoral and climate actions to combat viral diseases wherever and whenever they emerge.
Info autore
Dr. (Mrs) Juliet Adamma Shenge
leads the Dominican University research and innovation portfolio. She was appointed Director of research on November 20, 2019. Her research focus is on molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of viral diseases of public health importance. Her other research areas of interest include genomics of infectious diseases, antiviral research, viral oncology, viral zoonosis and disease outbreak investigations.
Juliet Adamma Shenge is a graduate of University of Ibadan, where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree (Hons.) in Microbiology, Master’s and Doctorate (Ph.D ) degrees in Virology, in the Department of Virology, College of medicine, University of Ibadan. She also holds Certificate in Molecular and Cellular Immune Response; Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) of Eastern Health, Newfoundland, Canada; Certificate in Epidemiology Coordinating and Research (EPICORE), USA, Certificates in Cancer Prevention and Birth Defects Surveillance by Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta, USA).
She is a member of many learned and professional associations including American Society for Virology, American Society for Microbiology, Association of African Virologists, International Society for Infectious Diseases, a certified member of Epidemiology Coordinating and Research (EPICORE), USA, TEPHINET etc. She is a recipient of distinguished awards, fellowships and scholarships including Global Scholar award, University of Ibadan Postgraduate College Scholarship; UI PG College Publication Award, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) award; Acadia University scholarship, Nova Scotia, Canada; National Institute of Health Research Grants (USA); Keystone scholarships, CDC/TEPHINET scholarship award, WHO/World Hepatitis Alliance Award, among several others. She is also a fellow of Medical Education Partnership Initiative Nigeria (MEPIN). Dr. Shenge has attended several local and International conferences, where she has presented papers in her research and thematic area (Virology). She has to her credit several published articles in high impact journals, chapters in books and conference proceedings; reviewer/editorial board member of several reputable journals including Nature Research Journals (Scientific Reports). She has an interest in Global Health and International Development. She is a co-founder of Global Vision for Development Initiatives (GVDI). She is currently a lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences, Dominican University, Ibadan.
Akebe Luther King Abia (King)
is a Professor of Applied and Environmental Microbiologist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is also the Founder and CEO of the Environmental Research Foundation (ERF). His research focuses on, but is not limited to, antimicrobial resistance in the environment and how this relates to humans and animals through the One Health approach, using culture and molecular techniques, including metagenomics and whole-genome sequencing. He has over 20 years of experience as a microbiologist and is involved in many projects including monitoring water and soil for human pathogens, especially antibiotic-resistant ones, under changing climates. He has published over 80 journal articles, 6 book chapters and 1 book. He has also graduated 7 PhD, 10 MSc students.
Riassunto
Viral diseases continue to be a public health threat to humans. Humanity has been affected over the years by several pandemics associated with viruses, the most recent being COVID-19, caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). While these pandemics affect humanity globally, low- and middle-income countries are usually the most affected, especially those in Africa.
The African continent, especially the sub-Saharan part, represents a unique and complex environmental, economic, health system, and socio-political landscape which has favored the emergence, re-emergence, survival, and spread of viral infections. Most of these countries are characterized by poor sanitation conditions, at times with a complete lack of sanitary facilities and access to potable water for personal and household hygiene. Furthermore, most health systems in these countries are weak, usually due to a lack of finances and political will to invest in them. Moreover, social and cultural practices that allow constant interaction between humans, animals, and their environment increase the chances of infection.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic challenged health systems worldwide, even in developed countries, prompting the need to develop early warning systems to monitor present pandemics and prevent the emergence of new ones or the re-emergence of once-forgotten ones. Therefore, understanding the dynamics of viral disease emergence in the African continent is paramount to protecting the population from future epidemics and pandemics.
This book features a collection of research on various emerging and re-emerging viral agents emanating from Africa, which may involve new variants of known viruses or completely new agents; their peculiarities including their biology, pathogenesis, and mechanisms of adaptation in the environment; the role of climate change in disease emergence; drivers of zoonoses and transmission of these viral diseases between human and animal hosts; existing infrastructure including detection and diagnostic tools, health systems, and mitigators of viral diseases; challenges of implementing early warning systems and surveillance for viral disease outbreaks in Africa; the impact of viral infections on the continent’s economy and the psychosocial impacts on its populations; and integrating the One Health approach to preventing disease outbreaks, spill-over, and pandemics with emphasis on sustainable participatory strategies to achieving overall human, animal, and environmental health. This book explores the human-animal-environment interface of viral diseases -- especially those with the potential to cause pandemics -- and their epidemiology & connection with the rapidly developing African continent. This book will spur discourse on improving research on the continent to inform science, One Health, and multi-dimensional approaches including sectoral and climate actions to combat viral diseases wherever and whenever they emerge.
