In short
During the ZOOIS project, Sciensano builds an active surveillance system to evaluate the potential transmission of influenza viruses of animal origin to humans.
Project description
The Zoonotic Influenza Surveillance (ZOOIS) study is divided into 2 sections: ZOOIS-sentinel and ZOOIS-outbreak.
For ZOOIS-sentinel the objectives are to build an active surveillance network for people working in close contact with animals who can be infected with Influenza A viruses. This includes people working at animal shelters or bird rehabilitation centres or veterinarians working in the pig (or poultry) industry. Within each network, recruited volunteers to collect information on the participant and its activities. Virological follow-up of the participants is done by (self) collection of a nasopharyngeal swab every 2 weeks that is analysed in RT-qPCR.
For ZOOIS-outbreak the objectives are to recruit people that are exposed to animal influenza. Information on the participant and its activities is collected and virological follow-up is done by (self) collection of a nasopharyngeal swab every 2 days over a period of 2 weeks. Swabs are analysed in RT-qPCR. In addition, for those willing to, a serological follow-up of participants is done through the collection of a capillary blood sample on filter paper at enrolment and approximatively 4 weeks later, which is tested in hemagglutination inhibition assay.
Both studies are approved by the Ethical Committee of Erasmus-ULB. Each participant receives a Unique Identification Number, under which their name and contact details are securely stored. All participants have the right to end their participation in the study at any point in time.
