The 2013-2016 Ebola virus (EBOV) epidemic in West Africa further highlighted the need to understand the processes of zoonotic spillover events of filoviruses and other high consequence emerging viruses. Furthermore, the reports of subsequent outbreaks of Zaire and Bombali Ebola viruses in addition to Marburg virus, in the region, suggests numerous known and unknown emerging viruses have been circulating in animal reservoirs before the initial spillover event of EBOV in 2013. The evidence of EBOV virus persistence in the testes of male survivors provides additional threats of sexual transmission associated outbreaks. We have been studying EBOV disease survivors and wildlife hunters in the forested region of Guinea since 2015. The forest, which straddle the borders with Liberia and Sierra Leonne, has extensive biodiversity and is home to an array of bat species as well as other small mammals previously identified as reservoirs for emerging viruses.

I will discuss our work on molecular and sero-epidemiology that provided evidence of prior spillover of emerging viruses in the region as well as long term virus persistence in male survivors and the public health implications of future outbreaks from the “human reservoir”.

Professor Miles Carroll is Professor of Emerging Viruses and leads the High Consequence Emerging Viruses research group at the Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford. Previously Professor Carroll was Head of Research at the National Infections Service at Public Health England, Porton Down from 2008–2022. His current research portfolio includes: naturally acquired immunity to EBOV and other high consequence pathogens, understanding the host response to infection, high consequence emerging disease vaccines and diagnostics, and the application of molecular epidemiology to outbreaks. He is also involved in ongoing infectious disease research in West Africa which supports capacity building for the region. Professor Carroll serves on a variety of Scientific Advisory Boards including the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency, Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, UK Vaccines Network and the WHO R&D Road Map for Priority Pathogens. He has been awarded numerous honorary awards in recognition of his research contributions to the field of infectious diseases. . www.chg.ox.ac.uk/people/miles-carroll