The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) has announced intentions to issue a single source award to Georgia’s National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) to assess the seroprevalence and genetic diversity of highly pathogenic bunyaviruses circulating in the region.
NCDC will conduct active environmental surveillance studies to provide a baseline for the potential emergence of disease caused by Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) and hantaviruses causing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).
Viruses present in rodent and tick samples will be genetically and antigenically characterized by gene sequencing and live virus neutralization assays and if possible, virus isolations will be attempted.
The total award amount is estimated to be $413,500 USD.