Research consortium aims at dangerous bornaviruses : FLI Press Release 21/2017

Greifswald - Insel Riems, 13 October 2017. Since its first description in 2015 four fatal cases of infections with the novel Variegated Squirrel Bornavirus VSBV-1 have been reported in Germany. This unexpected high incidence gives reason for serious concerns with regard to the transmissibility of VSBV-1 and related bornaviruses to humans and the pathogenic potential of these viruses. Therefore, the Research Consortium Zoonotic Bornavirus – abbreviated ZooBoCo – was launched on October 12 with a kick-off meeting. It is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in the frame of the “National Research Network Zoonotic Infectious Diseases”. Zoonoses are infectious diseases which can be transmitted between humans and animals.