Novel filoviruses: indication of a global threat or cause to reassess our risk perception?

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Zoonotic Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Filoviruses, notably Ebola virus, are recognized for causing severe human illnesses.
• Apathogenic filoviruses also exist and are increasingly detected globally.
• These viruses are identified in a widening array of host species worldwide.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize current knowledge on novel filoviruses.
• To identify open questions regarding filovirus risk assessment.
• To prepare for potential threats posed by emerging filoviruses.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent filovirus research.
• Analysis of global surveillance data for filovirus hosts.
• Synthesis of existing data on filovirus emergence and pathogenicity.

Main Results:

• Filoviruses are circulating globally across numerous host species.
• Evidence suggests an expanding host range for filoviruses.
• Novel filoviruses represent an underappreciated area of infectious disease research.

Conclusions:

• Continued research is essential to understand the epidemiology and pathogenicity of novel filoviruses.
• Proactive risk assessment and preparedness strategies are necessary.
• Global collaboration is key to monitoring and mitigating filovirus threats.