One Health: wildlife, ecosystems, humans

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One Health

Zoonoses, diseases transmissible between wildlife and humans, are a major risk for both, as in the case of the Ebola virus. Growing human pressure on remote wildplaces increases the exchange interface, and the risk of new epidemics. In response, WCS has adopted an inclusive «One Health» approach and developed programs for wildlife, human and ecosystems health.
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OUR APPROACH

RAISING AWARENESS

Following the Ebola epidemic in northern Congo in 2005, a relentless awareness campaign continues to inform villagers of the best practices to adopt when they come across a dead animal in the forest. The campaign has reached almost 10,000 people in 400 villages, with a clear message: stay away from dead animals, and report them to our service.

COMMUNITY-LED EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

Thanks to alerts launched by communities aware of zoonotic risks, we deploy teams trained to test animal carcasses in complete safety. We trained over 50 people in carcass sampling, spread over 5 sites in a 50,000 sq km landscape that is home to 45% of the world’s gorilla population.

ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITY

Through a fruitful partnership with the National Laboratory of the Ministry of Health, the analysis of a carcass sample for Ebola virus has been reduced from several weeks to an hour. This was possible thanks to a portable PCR device we have developed and validated in collaboration with the NIH/NIAID Laboratory of Virology. We are working on expanding our on-site diagnostic methods to include testing for additional pathogens.

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POTENTIAL RESERVOIR RESEARCH

As bats and rodents are potential zoonotic reservoirs, WCS has partnered with the Viral Ecology Unit of the NIH/ NIAID Laboratory of Virology and the Congolese Foundation of Medical Research to combine ecological data with molecular and serology testing to advance research into risk factors favoring pathogen transmission at the human-animal interface.

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MANAGEMENT OF SEIZED WILDLIFE

Wild animals seized alive from poachers are sent to our rehabilitation center, where they receive a check-up and are cared for until they can be released back into the wild. Among the species most frequently rehabilitated at the center are grey parrots and birds of prey

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