PREDICT Content

Understanding the Evolution of SARS and COVID-19 Type Viruses

Andy Fell — February 24, 2021 - 1:00pm

As COVID-19 sweeps the world, related viruses quietly circulate among wild animals. A new study shows how SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and SARS-CoV-1, which caused the 2003 SARS outbreak, are related to each other. The work, published recently in the journal Virus Evolution, helps scientists better understand the evolution of these viruses, how they acquired the ability to infect humans and which other viruses may be poised for human spillover.

Scientists Find Ebola Virus Antibodies in People Before 2018 DRC Outbreak

Katherine E Kerlin — November 04, 2020 - 8:00am

Scientists found antibodies to Ebola virus in people up to a year before the 2018 Ebola virus disease outbreak began in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, or DRC. This suggests that either early cases may have been missed or that exposure occurs more commonly than previously thought, according to a study led by the University of California, Davis.

PREDICT Receives Extension for COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency Response

Katherine E Kerlin — March 31, 2020 - 7:22am

PREDICT will provide emergency support to other countries for outbreak response including technical support for early detection of SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease COVID-19, through a six-month extension from the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, effective April 1.

Marburg Virus Found in Sierra Leone Bats

Andy Fell — January 24, 2020 - 11:09am

Scientists have detected Marburg virus in fruit bats in Sierra Leone, marking the first time the deadly virus has been found in West Africa. Eleven Egyptian rousette fruit bats tested positive for active Marburg virus infection. Research teams caught the bats separately in three health districts.

Scientists Identify Bombali Ebolavirus in Bats in Guinea

Katherine E Kerlin — September 09, 2019 - 1:49pm

The sixth ebolavirus, Bombali virus, has been detected in insect-eating bats in Guinea. In addition to findings reported by researchers earlier this month, scientists from the University of California, Davis, detected the virus in Angolan free-tailed bats roosting inside people’s houses in Guéckedou and Kissidougou.

Strengthening Global Health Security in Africa and Asia

Kristin P Burns — June 03, 2019 - 11:40am

PREDICT is training students and professionals in One Health skills, empowering country-led teams to prevent and respond to epidemic and pandemic threats

At �ٺ��Ƶ, the One Health Institute has been integral in global surveillance for zoonotic viruses through its leadership of PREDICT, a collaborative international project funded by the U.S.

$9M to Preempt Zoonotic Spillover Threats, Protect Military and Local Communities

Katherine E Kerlin — February 19, 2019 - 10:40am

Predicting the emergence of highly pathogenic viruses in animals and preventing them from spilling over to humans is the goal of a multimillion-dollar cooperative agreement from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, with collaborating researchers at the University of California, Davis; the University of Idaho; and Plymouth University in England.

Deadly Marburg Virus Found in Sierra Leone Bats

Katherine E Kerlin — December 20, 2018 - 2:15pm

Scientists have discovered Marburg virus in fruit bats in Sierra Leone. This is the first time the deadly virus has been found in West Africa. Five Egyptian rousette fruit bats tested positive for active Marburg virus infection. Scientists caught the bats separately in three health districts: Moyamba, Koinadugu and Kono.

Ebola Species Found in Bats Ahead of Any Potential Outbreak

Katherine E Kerlin — August 27, 2018 - 9:30am

For the first time, scientists discovered a new ebolavirus species in a host prior to detection in an infected human or sick animal. The discovery of the Bombali virus in bats in Sierra Leone was made by scientists at the University of California, Davis, One Health Institute and Columbia University’s Center for Infection and Immunity as part of USAID's PREDICT program.

Scientists Discover New Ebolavirus in Bats in Sierra Leone

Katherine E Kerlin — July 27, 2018 - 12:23pm

Scientists have identified a novel ebolavirus in free-tailed bats in Sierra Leone, providing the strongest evidence to date that bats are the natural hosts of these viruses. The new virus, called Bombali virus, was found in insectivorous bats roosting inside people’s houses.