Dalhousie University researcher Dr. David Kelvin is launching an $850,000 research project to identify hotspots for poxviruses and better understand their spread, filling an important knowledge gap while improving preparedness, prevention, and response efforts for future outbreaks.
Dr. Kelvin, an infectious disease expert, has assembled an international team of clinicians, scientists, entomologists, veterinarians, sociologists and government officials in Africa and Canada to study highly contagious poxviruses, like mpox (monkeypox).
“With the emergence of mpox viral outbreaks and epidemics, it’s necessary for us to understand the sociological and scientific factors that play a role in the encroachment of human populations on wildlife,” Dr. Kelvin says in explaining the 'One Health' approach to the project.
“This is leading to increased exposure and increased chances of infection, which is why it’s important to better understand poxvirus ecology.”
Research Nova Scotia (RNS) is investing $250,000 in the project, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is providing $500,000, and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is providing $100,000 in-kind.
Tracking existing and emerging variants
The RNS investment builds on a growing expertise in health and environmental surveillance research in Nova Scotia. Dr. Kelvin’s project team will work with Dalhousie's Graham Gagnon and the Centre for Water Resources Studies to use specialized equipment to test wastewater at five busy border areas in Rwanda to quickly identify the presence of the viruses. They will also take samples from animals to see if they are carrying it.
The two-year project will provide a comprehensive map of the state of mpox and orthopox viruses in central Africa and Nova Scotia, as well as new variants that are emerging.
“This information will support policy makers to prepare for emerging poxviruses, enabling quick responses to reduce their spread and impact," says Stefan Leslie, CEO of Research Nova Scotia.
“Tracking and understanding the rise of new viruses around the world will help Nova Scotia be ready for the next pandemic, and prevent dangerous illnesses from affecting our people, livestock and wildlife. Working with the research team allows us to focus on outcomes that support provincial needs and maximize benefit to society while identifying efficiencies and connections.”
Dr. Kelvin's team includes investigators from Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Burundi who will work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture & Animal Resources and Ministry of Health in Rwanda to conduct ongoing surveillance of emerging infectious diseases.
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Being prepared
Mpox is a zoonotic disease of global public health importance caused by an orthopoxvirus. It is closely related to smallpox and is endemic to parts of Central and West Africa, where it has been re-emerging in recent years with possible links to increased environmental land use and greater interactions between humans and animal carriers of the virus.
The recent emergence of mpox viral outbreaks and epidemics has shown how extensive the poxvirus family is. Last year, Canada experienced its first major mpox outbreak, indicating that zoonotic diseases once thought to be contained to one geographic region are becoming worldwide health emergencies.
In the wake of the outbreaks, the federal government announced an investment of $6.35 million for Dr. Kelvin's and 12 other teams across Canada to study mpox and other zoonotic threats.
"Through this funding, researchers in Canada are taking the lead in understanding transmission, mitigation and prevention to help Canada and countries around the world be better prepared for future zoonotic threats,” federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said at the time.