Op zoek naar het mechanisme achter Monkeypox virus transmissie: een multidisciplinaire 'one health' studie over een opkomende zoönose

Smallpox constituted one of the deadliest diseases of all time.
Combining efficient transmission, with a high death rate (30%), this
virus regularly caused epidemics that claimed millions of lives.
Although the disease was successfully eradicated through mass
vaccination, closely related poxvirus species are still emerging.
Among these, monkeypox virus is most of concern. Circulating in
wildlife in the rainforests of Central Africa, it often contaminates
populations living close to the forest. Once infected, humans develop
an illness that strongly resembles smallpox and they can spread the
virus to other people, like household contacts or health care workers.
Alarmingly, recent numbers indicate that monkeypox cases are
increasing. Unfortunately, the disease is relatively understudied as
outbreaks mainly occur in remote areas, with poorly equipped
surveillance systems.
The goal of this project is, therefore, to study the mechanisms behind
monkeypox transmission. To this end, we will use a multidisciplinary
approach that studies all aspects of the transmission chain: the
animal reservoir, animal-to-human spillover, virus shedding in
infected patients and spread of the disease within households. This
project is unique as it ingrates studies in both animals and humans to
finely dissect the mechanisms of monkeypox transmission. The
outcomes of this project will be crucial to prevent and control future
monkeypox epidemics and will contribute to overall pandemic
preparedness.