Overview of Bat and Wildlife Coronavirus Surveillance in Africa: A Framework for Global Investigations.

ABSTRACT: The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had devastating health and socio-economic impacts. Human activities, especially at the wildlife interphase, are at the core of forces driving the emergence of new viral agents. Global surveillance activities have identified bats as the natural hosts of diverse coronaviruses, with other domestic and wildlife animal species possibly acting as intermediate or spillover hosts. The African continent is confronted by several factors that challenge prevention and response to novel disease emergences, such as high species diversity, inadequate health systems, and drastic social and ecosystem changes. We reviewed published animal coronavirus surveillance studies conducted in Africa, specifically summarizing surveillance approaches, specie

SUBMITTER: Geldenhuys M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8158508 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature