After Discovering Zika In 1947, Uganda Virus Research Institute Continues To Investigate Disease

Foreign Policy: Uganda Discovered the Zika Virus. And the Solution for It.
“…[I]t’s the Zika virus — which has infected tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people in the Americas in recent months and may be linked to a spate of children born with underdeveloped brains in Brazil — that’s now bringing Ugandan epidemiologists unexpected attention. [Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI)] scientists first discovered Zika in the blood of a rhesus monkey back in 1947. And while Uganda has never had an outbreak of the virus, the country’s unique approach to monitoring the spread of similar diseases could hold the key to stopping future epidemics in their tracks…” (Green, 2/10).

The Guardian: Zika forest: birthplace of virus that has spread fear across the world
“… ‘[The Zika forest] is a global epicenter of pathogens and viruses,’ says Louis Mukwaya, head of the entomology department at the Ugandan Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and a world-renowned mosquito researcher. Leopards, snakes, and monkeys live in its 24 acres, but breeding in its trees are more than 70 species of mosquito. Together, they harbor dozens of deadly pathogens that could potentially be transferred to man. It is extremely rare to find so many species in one small patch, which makes the forest ideal for research…” (Vidal, 2/13).

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