Uganda, like much of sub-Saharan Africa, is in the midst of a public health crisis. The great number of infectious, vector-borne and zoonotic diseases rampant in Uganda has caused a retardation of social and economic development and much human suffering. In this proposal, the Ugandan Virus Research Institute describes a multi-year project investigating and controlling vector-borne and zoonotic disease in Uganda. In order to achieve this long-term aim, this research proposal will focus on assessing the disease burden caused by vector-borne and zoonotic diseases in Uganda, describing the enzootic and epizootic parameters associated with vector-borne and zoonotic diseases in Uganda, developing programs and technology to reduce morbidity and mortality due to vector-borne and zoonotic diseases in Uganda, characterize the reservoir hosts and vectors of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases in Uganda, acquiring a diverse archive collection of bacterial and viral isolates from Uganda and lastly, developing and evaluating economically sustainable control strategies under field conditions.
This project will benefit the people of Uganda by reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases, investing in the health infrastructure of Uganda, educating and training public health officials and the public on surveillance and control of these diseases, investing in academic development and capacity building for Ugandan Universities and the Ministry of Health. Additionally, this project will benefit our partner, the US CDC by addressing the Healthy People 2010 priority area(s) of Immunization and Infectious Diseases and is in alignment with NCZVED performance goal(s) to protect Americans from infectious diseases.
