Coordinated by the HIOH research group “One Health Surveillance“, this long-term effort aims to deepen the understanding of the links between human, animal and environmental health in order to detect potential spillover events early and strengthen preparedness for future pandemics.
As part of this initiative, the teams will engage with 1,500 people living in villages around the park. The study will be implemented together with around 50 Ivorian staff on site. Temporary examination centers will be set up to examine human participants, collect samples, and conduct structured questionnaires. In parallel, veterinary teams will collect samples from domestic and farm animals, while a dedicated small mammal team will sample rodents and bats within the villages. This work will be complemented by a comprehensive environmental monitoring program, including water sampling and biodiversity surveys. Overall, 15 HIOH staff members will be deployed to Côte d’Ivoire between mid-February and the end of May 2026.
The initiative draws on HIOH’s long-standing presence in the region and years of joint preparatory work by HIOH, the Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire (CHU) de Bouaké, the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, the HZI and the Friedrich Loeffler Institute. Together, we developed the study design through a series of collaborative workshops and extended field stays.
The samples and data generated through this globally unique effort will offer novel opportunities to better understand the emergence of zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance, while opening up new avenues for research and cooperation.
