New Pub: Understanding Zoonotic Disease Risks Around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
New EpiCenter for EID Intelligence study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Emerging infectious diseases that jump from animals to humans, known as zoonoses, have become an increasing global health concern. From Ebola viruses to new strains of influenza, outbreaks of these pathogens most frequently occur where people and wildlife come into close contact. One such place is the area surrounding Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a region rich in biodiversity with nearby human populations that depend on the forest for their livelihoods.
A new study, “Assessment of exposure to zoonoses and perceptions of zoonotic transmission surrounding the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda,” explores how local communities understand these disease risks. Researchers conducted focus groups with more than 150 participants in both rural and urban communities around the forest to learn how people perceive the potential for animal-to-human disease transmission and what daily activities might increase their risk.
Haven N, Mutahunga B, Kellermann S, Joyner J, Lippert J, Rusoja EA, Wilkes M, Mateeka G, Ssebide B, Aguti C, Ahwera I, Mugisa C, Nanono F, Katushabe P, Gardner NR, Johnson CK, Evans TS. Assessment of exposure to zoonoses and perceptions of zoonotic transmission surrounding the Bwindi impenetrable forest, Uganda. Mshelbwala PP, editor. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2025 Nov 17;19(11):e0013701. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013701