Racing To Detect Viruses Before They Reach Humans | Dw Documentary

What if the next pandemic could be detected before it spreads?

In the rainforests of the Central African Republic, researchers are tracking pathogens that can spread between animals and humans. By studying bats, gorillas and other wildlife, they hope to identify potential threats before they become global outbreaks.

Viruses that originate in animals have repeatedly changed the course of human history. Ebola, COVID-19 and mpox are among the diseases caused by pathogens that jump from animals to humans. To better understand the risks, WWF veterinarian Frédéric Singa works in the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas, where he captures bats, collects samples from gorilla droppings, and collaborates with local communities to identify which pathogens are circulating in the forest.

The samples Singa collects are analyzed in a field laboratory before being sent abroad, including to Germany, for further testing. Professor Fabian Leendertz of the Helmholtz Institute for One Health in Greifswald studies how new infectious diseases emerge and maps global risk areas. The work highlights the close connection between human, animal and environmental health.

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