六合彩图库

Emerging infectious risks and regional challenges in global health

Population growth, human activity and environmental and climate change are driving an increase in infectious risks. For example, human-induced changes to the environment and deforestation are leading to more frequent interactions between wildlife, livestock and people, thereby increasing the risk of zoonotic pathogen transmission. Climate disruption and human mobility are partly responsible for a resurgence of vector-borne diseases such as those transmitted by mosquitoes, increasing both the frequency and intensity of dengue and chikungunya outbreaks.

The objectives of the PRERISK-OI project are to increase knowledge of animal and zoonotic infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance at the interface between humans, animals and the environment, while offering specific, tailored solutions to local stakeholders (decision-makers, managers, professionals) in both animal and human health. The goal is also to build the capacities of these stakeholders, and to foster multidisciplinary approaches and institutional partnerships in the South-West Indian Ocean region with island territories located at the crossroads of Africa, Europe and Asia that are highly exposed to epidemic risks.

Tackling infectious risks: monitoring, understanding, control and knowledge transfer

The project is structured around four main areas of action:

1. Monitoring

This first area focuses on developing and transferring new approaches to strengthen the monitoring of animal and zoonotic infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance in the Indian Ocean region. This includes ensuring health managers adopt tools such as event monitoring and dynamic spatial mapping of infectious risks, as well as transferring diagnostic and sequencing methods that are adapted to the local needs and context.

2. Understanding to enable anticipation

This second area aims to identify the biological, environmental and socio-economic factors that facilitate the emergence, spread and persistence of infectious diseases – in particular those shared between humans and animals – in the Indian Ocean region. This includes research on the genetic variability of pathogens, the impact of climate change, population movements, and interactions between pathogens, hosts (humans, domestic and wild animals) and vectors. A clearer understanding of these factors will make it possible to anticipate health events and the introduction of new pathogens or exotic vectors in the region, and to propose effective operational tools for monitoring and control at the interface between areas 1 and 3.

3. Control

This area is aimed at developing control methods and strategies tailored to priority infectious diseases in the region, taking into account the specific epidemiological, economic and social contexts. It includes efforts to improve prevention and control of rabies in Madagascar, as well as the monitoring and management of insecticide and acaricide resistance in key vectors of interest in public and veterinary health. It also involves the development of innovative tools for entomological surveillance and vector control.

4. Training, coordination and knowledge transfer

This final area includes cross-cutting activities in research training (Master’s PhD), academic training (teaching) and technical training (vocational). These activities will help to advance ongoing research, to build capacities in the region and to ensure research findings are transferred to partners and beneficiaries for uptake and application. This area also involves the dissemination of research findings, through publications and by organising and participating in international conferences. It also aims to develop new internal and external communication tools, along with educational resources for members and partners.

Building capacities and improving the health of local people and ecosystems

The expected impacts of this project are:

1. Capacity building

├── Research training (Master’s, PhDs)

├── Academic and vocational training (health, entomology, epidemiology, etc.)

├── Skills enhancement (epidemiology, modelling, mapping, etc.)

├── Transfer of tailored methods (Padi-Web, Spatial MCDA, etc.)

└── Capacity building (diagnostic testing, lab quality control, etc.)

2. Networks and cooperation

├── Regional stakeholder network

├── Support for the IOC’s SEGA One Health network

├── Cross-sector cooperation (human/animal/environmental health)

└── Interdisciplinary partnerships

3. Knowledge and surveillance

├── Mapping of priority diseases

├── Analysis of risk factors

├── Monitoring of multi-resistant bacteria

└── Recommendations to reduce resistance

4. Health and food system impacts

├── Reduced epidemic risk

├── Ecosystem protection

├── Improved food security

└── Better quality animal products

5. Dissemination and influence

├── Transfer of findings (scientific community, general public, decision-makers)

├── Innovative, tailored tools (podcasts, murals, serious games, learning kits, etc.)

├── Influence on health policies

└── Adaptation of local practices