Tropical Regions

Guinea and Ivory Coast,
West Africa 

Habitats we study

Human and animal life interactions in diverse locations

Guinea

Pristine

Ziama Forest

Fragmented

Past Ebola emergence sites in Forested Guinea province 

Intensive Agriculture

Kindia province

Urban

Conakry

Ivory coast

Pristine

Tai Forest

Fragmented

Tai Forest vicinity

Key Pathogens 
we explore

  • Filovirus such as: Ebola virus, Marburg virus  
  • Arenavirus such as:  Lassa Fever 
  • Coronaviruses
  • Trematodes 

Key Hosts and Vectors we work on

For effective and trustworthy results we will be taking environmental and biological samples

Wildlife

  • Rodents
  • Primates

Bats

  • Frugivorous

Domestic animals

  • Dogs
  • Cats

Humans

  • Adults (20-50 years old) Woman 46%

Our work in in West Africa

Sampling

Field and laboratory environmental, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife samples are taken and screened with the aim of characterising the present viruses. Other EU-funded projects (i.e. Ebo-Sursy and BIODIV-AFREID) will also contribute with biological data for Guinea and Ivory Coast respectively.

SIR Model

Data collected on filoviruses in bats will help the development of compartmental epidemiological SIR models. IRD and CERFIG will support CIRAD in the design and interpretation of the model.

Three ABMs

Together with local communities and experts' insights, BCOMING will create three models that involve ABM model that involves a computational representation of critical species (e.g. bats) and humans (e.g. livelihoods, hunting, guano collectors).

Biodiversity information will be integrated and modelled either as food web species interactions or by specifying habitat types linked to land areas.

African Workshops and News

Conservation in Cambodia and Guinea with Fauna & Flora

A few months ago, we had the opportunity to meet with Sothearen Thi, Karst Biodiversity Coordinator, and Manita Hem, Communications Officer, representing Flora & Fauna, one of the key partners in the BCOMING project in charge pf piloting biodiversity conservation strategies in some of our biodiversity hotspots. Today, we wanted to share with you some of the insights they shared with us during our discussion.

Read more

BCOMING and iDE: Building Resilient Systems to Prevent and Manage Zoonotic Disease Outbreaks

Within the frame of BCOMING, iDE (International Development Enterprises) is working hard in examining the socio-economic risk factors that drive zoonotic disease transmission, particularly in biodiversity hotspots, including Cambodia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Guadeloupe. Their work, as explained by iDE, focuses on how human activities—such as hunting, trading, and consuming wildlife—create pathways for pathogens to cross from animals to humans, a process known as "spillover."
Read more

Exploring Biodiversity and Zoonotic Disease Dynamics in Guinea

As part of the BCOMING project in Guinea, CERFIG organised a field mission from 12th to 27th January 2024, for capturing rodents and sampling bats in the Samyankhouré cave, Madina-Oula sub-prefecture.
Read more
Read our blogs, news and events

Local
contact

Angelique Todd
FFI
Alpha Keita
CERFIG