Nonhuman primates and other wild animals are naturally infected with a plethora of viruses with the potential to pass into human populations, including retroviruses. It has been shown that many known human retrovirus infections originated through multiple independent introductions of these animal retroviruses into human populations that then spread globally; however, little is known about the frequency of such events and about what other viruses may be crossing into human populations undetected. Our research team reviews exogenous retroviruses as a concern for persons in direct contact with wild animals, and as risks for future pandemics.

Current global disease control efforts focus largely on attempting to stop pandemics after they have already emerged. This fire brigade approach, which generally involves drugs, vaccines, and behavioral change, has severe limitations. Our research team investigates the process of how novel viruses enter into the human population from animals and go on to become pandemics. We work to control viruses that have only recently emerged. By creating a global network at the interface of humans and animals we are working to move viral forecasting from a theoretical possibility to a reality.

Throughout our global network of sites we have a number of trained field teams working with communities involved in hunting and butchering of wild animals. These field teams work with communities to further understanding of the risks of contact with wild animals and the steps to take to avoid infections with wild animal pathogens. Volunteer hunters can become part of our global monitoring network by collecting small blood samples onto filter paper and storing them for collection by our field teams. The field teams travel back to the sites regularly to collect more samples and to inform participants what has been found in the samples that have been analyzed. The goal of this work is to encourage people to be aware of risks and take steps to avoid infection, while also increasing our knowledge of pathogen diversity

Hunting is common behavior to rural central African villages, particularly in forest areas. Hunted wildlife is used to supplement household nutrition, particularly in areas where commercial supply of domestic animal meat is unavailable. The hunting and butchering of wildlife, and especially of non-human primates, is recognized as a potential risk for both individual and community health, due to the potential for viral crossover.More information is needed about the degree of interaction of hunters with wild animal carcasses; by measuring specific risk points and degree of risk associated with different species/hunting techniques, we hope to recommend behavioral changes that would benefit hunters and wider community health.