A new project dubbed Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases has been launched at the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe.
Emerging infectious diseases remain a major global health threat and thus this international project aims to understand whether the diversity of related, circulating viruses might influence — and possibly reduce — the risk and severity of diseases caused by serious pathogens like Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) among others.
Speaking at the launch, the Director of General Health Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Charles Olaro, said that outbreaks of the Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever have been frequent in Uganda and therefore, it has compelled the country to initiate a five-year project to study and understand the extent of its existence in the country.
“By studying tick-borne nairoviruses in East Africa, we are testing whether prior exposure to related viruses could help shape host immunity in ways that affect disease transmission and severity. This could have important implications for pandemic preparedness and vaccine development,” he stated.
He added that the outcome of the study will help the country to come up with strategic interventions to control outbreaks of the deadly disease in the country.
The project is being carried out by the Medical Research Council/ Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine among others.
“The frequent outbreaks of the deadly Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a viral disease known for its high mortality rates have been declared as, a health threat in the region,” he further said.
Project Aims:
- Experimentally test whether prior exposure to related viruses affects disease severity and transmission in animals.
- Survey the diversity of nairoviruses circulating in ticks, livestock, and humans in Uganda.
- Model how virus-virus interactions at the immune level could impact outbreak dynamics and emergence risks.
- Explore whether broad “portfolio” vaccines might provide cross-lineage protection against future emerging viruses.
Why It Matters:
- CCHFV is recognized by the World Health Organization as a priority emerging pathogen with epidemic potential and no widely available vaccine.
- Understanding how viral diversity interacts with host immunity could provide new insights into preventing future spillover events.
- The findings could help design better vaccines and improve strategies for early pandemic prevention.
Project Leads: Multidisciplinary team including experts in disease ecology, virology, immunology, epidemiology, and mathematical modelling from the University of Glasgow, University of Oxford, ILRI (Kenya), UVRI (Uganda), and Oregon State University (USA).
