Emerging viruses in West and South Africa: Molecular identification and characterization of rodent- and shrew-borne hantaviruses and assessment of their public health potential

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Hantaviruses, members of the family Bunyaviridae, are emerging viruses causing two life-threatening human zoonoses; hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. The viruses are transmitted from animal reservoirs to humans. Based on our recent findings of hantaviruses in rodent as well as shrew reservoirs in Africa and their substantial implications in human health, the joint project of German and African groups will evaluate the biodiversity of hantaviruses and their natural animal reservoirs in western and southern Africa, the biological properties of the newly discovered viruses and the clinical significance of the African hantaviruses. This effort will result in capacity building for the detection and characterization of hantaviruses and other emerging viruses in African laboratories and to the development of virus-diagnostic and public health expertise for the control of rodent-borne zoonotic infections.