Nature Communications (Sep 2022)

Predicting the evolution of the Lassa virus endemic area and population at risk over the next decades

  • Raphaëlle Klitting,
  • Liana E. Kafetzopoulou,
  • Wim Thiery,
  • Gytis Dudas,
  • Sophie Gryseels,
  • Anjali Kotamarthi,
  • Bram Vrancken,
  • Karthik Gangavarapu,
  • Mambu Momoh,
  • John Demby Sandi,
  • Augustine Goba,
  • Foday Alhasan,
  • Donald S. Grant,
  • Sylvanus Okogbenin,
  • Ephraim Ogbaini-Emovo,
  • Robert F. Garry,
  • Allison R. Smither,
  • Mark Zeller,
  • Matthias G. Pauthner,
  • Michelle McGraw,
  • Laura D. Hughes,
  • Sophie Duraffour,
  • Stephan Günther,
  • Marc A. Suchard,
  • Philippe Lemey,
  • Kristian G. Andersen,
  • Simon Dellicour

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-33112-3
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 15

Abstract

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It is currently unknown how climate and land use changes could affect the endemic area of Lassa virus, a zoonotic pathogen responsible for Lassa fever. Here, the authors show that by 2070, new regions in Africa will likely become ecologically suitable for Lassa virus, drastically increasing the population living in conditions favourable for virus circulation.