August 22, 2022

HSP, CDC-Thailand and CDC-One Health Office Host First All-Sites SARS-CoV-2 One Health Surveillance Meeting with Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology, and Vietnam Wildlife Conservation Society

On Tuesday, August 19, 2022, HSP, CDC-Thailand Office and CDC-One Health Office hosted the first All-Sites Meeting with the four SARS-CoV-2 One Health Surveillance subaward recipient teams from Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand. During the hour-long meeting, each surveillance team had time to present on the goal of their project, their sample collection and data dissemination plans, and report on implementation progress to this point. The Chulalongkorn University team is conducting a retrospective study of SARS-CoV-2 in captive wildlife at zoos and wildlife rehabilitation centers in Thailand. Mahidol University team in Thailand is conducting prospective surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in companion animals, exotic pets, and exposed pet owners at veterinary clinics; and is also conducting SARS-CoV-2 surveillance of rodents and the environment at garbage dumps. The Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology (MRIN) in Indonesia is conducting surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in bats, rats, water, and humans in two bat caves Gua Ngerong and Bali; surveillance will be conducted in dry and rainy seasons for comparison. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) team in Vietnam will conduct surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in free-ranging wildlife; captive wildlife in farms, wet markets and rescue centers; and surrounding environments, including water, across multiple sites. Chulalongkorn and Mahidol expect to conclude their studies by December 2022, MRIN by next spring, and WCS by September 2023.