Epidemiology of febrile illnesses caused by Dengue viruses and other Arboviruses in Georgia

Project Title “Epidemiology of febrile illnesses caused by Dengue viruses and other Arboviruses in Georgia” TAP 8, DTRA; Project duration:  01.04.2014 – 01.04.2015.

 Project summary

 a).Project  goal:

The overall goal of this proposal is to study the ecology of dengue viruses and other Arboviruses (WNV, TBEV, CHIK, HFRSV, and CCHFV), the epidemiology of fevers caused by these pathogens.

 b). Project implementation:

Patients presenting with febrile illness or hemorrhagic fever will be investigated.  The project will consist of sampling expeditions during which Mosquitoes and ticks, vectors of arboviruses will be collected from various locations throughout Georgia.  These samples will then be used for laboratory testing for arboviruses.

c). Expected results: 

Information gained from this project will help to develop more focused and in depth studies in future and will enable the Georgian Public Health system to adequately respond to re-emerging biological threats. Implementation of modern diagnostic tests will provide the Georgian scientific community with approaches that could improve disease monitoring capabilities.Differential diagnosis algorithms for febrile illnesses and their hemorrhagic manifestations will be developed.