Publications by authors named "W B Karesh"

The evolution of wildlife disease management and surveillance, as documented in the World Organisation for Animal Health's Scientific and Technical Review, reflects a deepening understanding of the links between wildlife health, ecosystem integrity and human well-being. Early work, beginning with the World Assembly of Delegates in 1954, primarily focused on diseases like rabies. This focus expanded over time to include broader concerns such as the impacts of climate change, habitat loss and increased human-wildlife interactions on wildlife health.

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Despite its endemic status in the Middle East, key knowledge gaps persist regarding the prevalence, transmission rate, and geographical distribution of both human and livestock brucellosis in Jordan. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of human and livestock brucellosis as well as the incidence of brucellosis in humans in Jordan. A total of 500 human participants (202 exposed and 296 unexposed to livestock) were enrolled in the study.

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Article Synopsis
  • Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a significant mosquito-borne virus affecting livestock and humans, particularly in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where the mosquito vectors are not well understood.
  • The study collected blood-fed mosquitoes over several years (2019-2023) to identify their blood meal sources and understand the relationships between mosquitoes and their hosts, using genetic sequencing techniques.
  • Results indicated that 88.8% of the blood meals came from mammals, with cattle and nyala being the most common hosts, while all tested mosquitoes were found negative for RVFV, suggesting low immediate risk in the area.
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As part of a public health behavior change and communication strategy related to the identification of a novel ebolavirus in bats in Sierra Leone in 2016, a consortium of experts launched an effort to create a widely accessible resource for community awareness and education on reducing disease risk. The resulting picture book, , includes technical content developed by a consortium of experts in public health, animal health, conservation, bats, and disease ecology from 30 countries. The book has now been adapted, translated, and used in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia.

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