Dynamic Drivers of Disease in Africa: ecosystems, livestock/wildlife, health and wellbeing

The Dynamic Drivers of Disease in Africa was a research programme designed to deliver much-needed, cutting-edge science on the relationships between ecosystems, zoonoses, health and wellbeing, with the objective of helping people move out of poverty and promoting social justice. The project investigated whether disease regulation as an ecosystem service is affected by changes in biodiversity, climate and land use, with differential impacts on people's health and well-being.

Research focused on four emerging or re-emerging zoonotic diseases in four diverse African ecosystems, with an innovative, holistic approach marrying the natural and social sciences to build an evidence base designed to inform global and national policy players seeking effective, integrated approaches to control and check disease outbreaks. There were five case studies:

  • Henipavirus infection in Ghana
  • Rift Valley fever in Kenya
  • Lassa fever in Sierra Leone
  • Trypanosomiasis in Zambia
  • Trypanosomiasis in Zimbabwe

The Dynamic Drivers of Disease in Africa Consortium comprised 21 partners spanning Africa, Europe and the US, and included researchers from the environmental, biological, social, political, and human and animal health sciences. It was an integrated multidisciplinary – or One Health – approach to understanding animal-to-human (zoonotic) disease transmission. A main objective was to generate evidence and advance understandings of the complex relationships between zoonoses, ecosystems and wellbeing to inform effective poverty and public health interventions.

The key questions the study sought to explore were:

  • What kinds of ecological changes (in ,for example, biodiversity, vegetation and habitat, and water) are affecting possible animal-to-human disease spillover?
  • What uses of ecosystems by different people bring them into contact with possible disease risk?
  • How are these local dynamics affected by wider changes, such as those in climate, land use and urbanisation.
  • How do different people and agencies understand and represent these dynamics and what are the implications for public health policy?

In this way, the Consortium sought to provide a much-needed evidence base and set of practical approaches to make a One Health agenda work in ways that also promote sustainable poverty reduction and social justice.

Further information:

Authors: Alderton, S.; MacLeod, E.T.; Anderson, N.E.; Palmer, G.; Machila, N.; Simuunza, M.; Welburn, S.C.; Atkinson, P.M.
Year: 2018
Authors: Kelly, A.H.; MacGregor, H.; Montgomery, C.M.
Year: 2017
Authors: Sang, R.; Lutomiah, J.; Said, M.; Makio, A.; Koka, H.; Koskei, E.; Nyunja, A.; Owaka, S.; Matoke-Muhia, D.; Bukachi, S.; Lindahl, J.; Grace, D.; Bett, B.
Year: 2017
Authors: Mwiinde, A.Mayaba; Simuunza, M.; Namangala, B.; Chama-Chiliba, C.Miriam; Machila, N.; Anderson, N.; Shaw, A.; Welburn, S.C.
Year: 2017
Authors: Bardosh, K.Louis; Scoones, J.Cornwall; Grace, D.; Kalema-Zikusoka, G.; Jones, K.E.; de Balogh, K.; Waltner-Toews, D.; Bett, B.; Welburn, S.C.; Mumford, E.; Dzingirai, V.
Year: 2017
Authors: Suu-Ire, R.D.; Fooks, A.R.; Banyard, A.C.; Selden, D.; Amponsah-Mensah, K.; Riesle, S.; Ziekah, M.Y.; Ntiamoa-Baidu, Y.; Wood, J.L.N.; Cunningham, A.A.
Year: 2017
Authors: Cunningham, A.A.; Daszak, P.; Wood, J.L.N.
Year: 2017
Authors: Redding, D.W.; Lucas, T.C.D.; Blackburn, T.M.; Jones, K.E.
Year: 2017
Authors: Bett, B.; Kiunga, P.; Gachohi, J.; Sindato, C.; Mbotha, D.; Robinson, T.; Lindahl, J.; Grace, D.
Year: 2017
Authors: Leach, M.; Bett, B.; Said, M.; Bukachi, S.; Sang, R.; Anderson, N.; Machila, N.; Kuleszo, J.; Schaten, K.; Dzingirai, V.; Mangwanya, L.; Ntiamoa-Baidu, Y.; Lawson, E.; Amponsah-Mensah, K.; Moses, L.M.; Wilkinson, A.; Grant, D.S.; Koninga, J.
Year: 2017
Authors: Scoones, I.; Jones, K.; Iacono, G.Lo; Redding, D.W.; Wilkinson, A.; Wood, J.L.N.
Year: 2017
Authors: Bett, B.; Said, M.Y.; Sang, R.; Bukachi, S.; Wanyoike, S.; Kifugo, S.C.; Otieno, F.; Ontiri, E.; Njeru, I.; Lindahl, J.; Grace, D.
Year: 2017
Authors: Ayivor, J.S.; Ohemeng, F.; Lawson, E.Tweneboah; Waldman, L.; Leach, M.; Ntiamoa-Baidu, Y.
Year: 2017
Authors: Redding, D.W.; Tiedt, S.; Iacono, G.Lo; Bett, B.; Jones, K.E.
Year: 2017
Authors: Scoones, I.; Dzingirai, V.; Anderson, N.; MacLeod, E.; Mangwanya, L.; Matawa, F.; Murwira, A.; Nyakupinda, L.; Shereni, W.; Welburn, S.
Year: 2017
Authors: Dzingirai, V.; Bett, B.; Bukachi, S.; Lawson, E.; Mangwanya, L.; Scoones, I.; Waldman, L.; Wilkinson, A.; Leach, M.; Winnebah, T.
Year: 2017
Authors: Brierley, L.; Vonhof, M.J.; Olival, K.J.; Daszak, P.; Jones, K.E.
Year: 2016
Authors: Grant, C.; Iacono, G.Lo; Dzingirai, V.; Bett, B.; Winnebah, T.R.A.; Atkinson, P.M.
Year: 2016
Authors: Welburn, S.C.; Molyneux, D.H.; Maudlin, I.
Year: 2016
Authors: Alderton, S.; MacLeod, E.T.; Anderson, N.E.; Schaten, K.; Kuleszo, J.; Simuunza, M.; Welburn, S.C.; Atkinson, P.M.
Year: 2016
Authors: Redding, D.W.; Moses, L.M.; Cunningham, A.A.; Wood, J.; Jones, K.E.
Year: 2016
Authors: Anderson, N.E.; Bessell, P.R.; Mubanga, J.; Thomas, R.; Eisler, M.C.; Fevre, E.M.; Welburn, S.C.
Year: 2016
Authors: Muriuki, J.Muth; Kitala, P.; Muchemi, G.; Njeru, I.; Karanja, J.; Bett, B.
Year: 2016
Authors: Iacono, G.Lo; Cunningham, A.A.; Fichet-Calvet, E.; Garry, R.F.; Grant, D.S.; Leach, M.; Moses, L.M.; Nichols, G.; Schieffelin, J.S.; Shaffer, J.G.; Webb, C.T.; Wood, J.L.N.
Year: 2016
Authors: Watts, N.; Adger, W.N.; Agnolucci, P.; Blackstock, J.; Byass, P.; Cai, W.; Chaytor, S.; Colbourn, T.; Collins, M.; Cooper, A.; Cox, P.; Depledge, J.; Drummonds, P.; Ekins, P.; Galaz, V.; Grace, D.; Graham, H.; Grubb, M.; Haines, A.; Hamilton, I.; Hunter, A.; Jliang, X.; Li, M.; Kelman, I.; Liang, L.; Lott, M.; Lowe, R.; Luo, Y.; Mace, G.; Maslin, M.; Nilsson, M.; Oreszczyn, T.; Pye, S.; Quinn, T.; Svensdotter, M.; Venevsky, S.; Warner, K.; Xu, B.; Yang, J.; Yin, Y.; Yu, C.; Zhang, Q.; Gong, P.; Montgomery, H.; Costello, A.
Year: 2015
Authors: Iacono, L.; Cunningham, A.A.; Fichet-Calvet, E.; Garry, R.F.; Grant, D.S.; Khan, S.H.; Leach, M.; Moses, L.M.; Schieffelin, J.S.; Shaffer, J.G.; Webb, C.T.; Wood, J.L.N.
Year: 2015
Authors: Anderson, N.E.; Mubanga, J.; Machila, N.; Atkinson, P.M.; Dzingirai, V.; Welburn, S.C.
Year: 2015
Authors: Wood, J.; Cunningham, A.; Suu-Ire, R.; Jephcott, F.; Ntiamoa-Baidu, Y.
Year: 2015
Authors: Kamara, A.; Koroma, B.M.; Gogra, A.B.
Year: 2015
Authors: Mableson, H.E.; Okello, A.; Picozzi, K.; Welburn, S.Christina
Year: 2014
Authors: Okello, A.L.; Bardosh, K.; Smith, J.; Welburn, S.C.
Year: 2014
Authors: Grace, D.; Bett, B.
Year: 2014
Authors: Dennis, J.W.; Durkin, S.M.; Horsley-Downie, J.E.; Hamill, L.C.; Anderson, N.E.; MacLeod, E.T.
Year: 2014
Authors: Butler, C.
Year: 2014
Authors: Grace, D.
Year: 2014
Authors: Peel, A.J.; Sargan, D.R.; Baker, K.S.; Hayman, D.T.S.; Barr, J.A.; Crameri, G.; Suu-Ire, R.; Broder, C.C.; Lembo, T.; Wang, L.F.; Fooks, A.R.; Rossiter, S.J.; Wood, J.L.N.; Cunningham, A.A.
Year: 2013
Authors: Funk, S.; Bogich, T.L.; Jones, K.E.; Kilpatrick, M.; Daszak, P.
Year: 2013
Authors: Grace, D.; Gilbert, J.; Randolph, T.; Kang’ethe, E.
Year: 2012
Authors: Gannon, V.; Li, X.; Grace, D.; Atwill, E.R.
Year: 2012
Authors: Auty, H.; Anderson, N.E.; Picozzi, K.; Lembo, T.; Mubanga, J.; Hoare, R.; Fyumagwa, R.D.; Mable, B.; Hamill, L.; Cleaveland, S.; Welburn, S.C.
Year: 2012
Authors: Bausch, D.G.; Moses, L.M.; Goba, A.; Grant, D.S.; Khan, H.
Year: 2012
Authors: Dufour, A.; Bartram, J.; Bos, R.; Gannon, V.
Year: 2012
Lead Principal Investigator
Organisation:
Country: United Kingdom
Principal Investigator
Organisation: Int Livestock Research Institute
Country: Kenya
Principal Investigator
Organisation: Zoological Soc London Inst of Zoology
Country: United Kingdom
Principal Investigator
Organisation: University of Edinburgh
Country: United Kingdom
Co Investigator
Organisation: University of Southampton
Country: United Kingdom
Co Investigator
Organisation: Tulane University
Country: United States
Co Investigator
Organisation: Int Livestock Research Institute
Country: Kenya
Co Investigator
Organisation: Zoological Soc London Inst of Zoology
Country: United Kingdom
Co Investigator
Organisation: Stockholm University
Country: Sweden
Co Investigator
Organisation: University of Nairobi
Country: Kenya
Co Investigator
Organisation: University of Ghana
Country: Ghana
Co Investigator
Organisation: Kenya Medical Research Institute
Country: Kenya
Co Investigator
Organisation: University of Sussex
Country: United Kingdom
Co Investigator
Organisation: University of Cambridge
Country: United Kingdom
Researcher Co Investigator
Organisation: University of Ghana
Country: Ghana
Researcher Co Investigator
Organisation: Kenema Government Hospital
Country: Sierra Leone
Researcher Co Investigator
Organisation: University of Zimbabwe
Country: Zimbabwe
Researcher Co Investigator
Organisation: Njala University College
Country: Sierra Leone
Researcher Co Investigator
Organisation: University of Ghana
Country: Ghana
Researcher Co Investigator
Organisation: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
Country: Zambia
Researcher Co Investigator
Organisation: Tsetse Control
Country: Zimbabwe
Researcher Co Investigator
Organisation: Forestry Commission
Country: Ghana
Researcher Co Investigator
Organisation: Njala University College
Country: Sierra Leone
Researcher
Organisation: University of Nairobi
Country: Kenya
Researcher
Organisation: IDS
Country: United Kingdom
Researcher
Organisation: Tulane University
Country: United States
Researcher
Organisation: Njala University
Country: Sierra Leone
Researcher
Organisation: Kenema Government Hospital
Country: Sierra Leone
Researcher
Organisation: Njala University
Country: Sierra Leone
Researcher
Organisation: Kenema Government Hospital
Country: Sierra Leone
Researcher
Organisation: Njala University
Country: Sierra Leone
Researcher
Organisation: ILRI
Country: Kenya
Researcher
Organisation: Department of Disease Control
Country: Zambia
Researcher
Organisation: Tulane University
Country: United States
Researcher
Organisation: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
Country: Zambia
Researcher
Organisation:
Country: Zimbabwe
Researcher
Organisation:
Country: Zimbabwe
Researcher
Organisation: Department of Disease Control
Country: Zambia
Researcher
Organisation: ILRI
Country: Kenya
Research Associate
Organisation: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
Country: United Kingdom
Research Associate
Organisation: Cambridge University
Country: United Kingdom
Research Associate
Organisation: UCL
Country: United Kingdom
Research Assistant
Organisation: University of Legon
Country: Ghana
Research Assistant
Organisation: University of Legon
Country: Ghana
Administrative
Organisation: IDS
Country: United Kingdom
Administrative
Organisation: IDS
Country: United Kingdom
Subcontractor
Organisation: -
Country: United Kingdom
Government Partner
Organisation:
Country: Sierra Leone
Government Partner
Organisation:
Country: Ghana