About
ZOOSURSY is a five-year project included in the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) One Health, funded by the European Union through its Global Gateway strategy to strengthen zoonotic disease surveillance across Africa. Implemented in 17 countries, the project brings together experts in animal health, public health and environmental sciences to improve preparedness, strengthen surveillance systems and foster collaboration using the One Health approach.
ZOOSURSY extends beyond the initial EBO-SURSY scope, covering 17 countries across Central, West, Eastern, and Southern Africa: Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, Central African Republic, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
ZOOSURSY builds upon the achievements and lessons learned from EBO-SURSY, expanding its geographical scope, strengthening partnerships and broadening surveillance activities to address emerging zoonotic threats across Africa. EBO-SURSY project final Report
2017-2024. Building the foundation for ZOOSURSY.
Source: WOAH EBO-SURSY final results (2017-2024).
ZOOSURSY strengthens Africa’s capacity to prevent and detect emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases through a One Health approach. By fostering collaboration across sectors, strengthening surveillance systems and engaging communities, the project supports sustainable solutions that improve preparedness and response at the animal-human-environment interface.
Improve cooperation and working practices among animal health, public health and environmental authorities to better prevent and detect priority emerging and re-emerging zoonotic disease outbreaks at the animal-human-environment interface.
Improve the design and implementation of national, regional and international guidance and policies for animal health surveillance in participating countries.
Increase the engagement of all relevant stakeholders in surveillance systems while recognising the essential role of wildlife in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
ZOOSURSY is coordinated by WOAH and implemented through a multidisciplinary consortium bringing together leading research institutes, universities and technical partners. Activities are delivered in close collaboration with national authorities and One Health stakeholders across participating countries. ZOOSURSY is included in the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) One Health. The project is funded by the European Union through the Global Gateway strategy, which supports sustainable investments and international partnerships to reinforce health security, scientific collaboration and resilience.
Highlights from ZOOSURSY field stories, student engagement and One Health collaboration across Africa.
Kadoma, Zimbabwe
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ZOOSURSY Students Club
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Nkok, Gabon
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Learning through innovation
The ALERT Game is an educational and participatory tool that strengthens awareness and collaboration around zoonotic disease surveillance through interactive learning.
Detecting disease threats where they emerge by monitoring wildlife at the animal-human-environment interface.
Field missions are carried out across countries including Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Cameroon, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo, with wildlife sampling supporting investigations into Ebola, Marburg and other zoonotic diseases.
The project supports the development of rapid disease testing and innovative diagnostic tools to improve the detection of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases.
During the Marburg outbreak in Rwanda, highly sensitive PCR assays and an ELISA for bat surveillance were developed, while rapid diagnostic tools for Mpox are being prepared for deployment in several countries.
Understanding how pathogens circulate in wildlife before they become outbreaks.
Analysis of Ebola virus antibodies in bats across 50 sampling sites revealed differences between species and geographic areas where the virus may have circulated, helping lay the groundwork for future risk maps.
Bringing communities into the early warning system through One Health approaches.
In the Central African Republic, AVADAR was deployed to connect community health workers with national authorities, while community awareness activities reached villages and schools across several countries.
Bringing prevention closer to people
ZOOSURSY raises awareness of zoonotic disease risks through locally adapted communication approaches, including community radio programmes and theatre performances.
Building sustainable expertise in wildlife health and zoonotic disease surveillance.
Thirty-three Master’s, PhD and MPhil students were engaged during the first year, alongside professional training in biosafety, wildlife sampling and laboratory diagnostics.
Converting field observations into evidence that strengthens surveillance systems.
The DETECTION database continues to centralise surveillance information, while scientific findings feed into risk analyses, standard operating procedures and future policy recommendations.
