{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,4]],"date-time":"2026-10-04T16:53:40Z","timestamp":1791132820230,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,4]],"date-time":"2026-10-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791072000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,4]],"date-time":"2026-10-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791072000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Public Health Challenges"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Mountain gorillas are endangered primates that share approximately 99% of their DNA with humans. Consequently, they may be susceptible to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS\u2010CoV2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID\u201019). Understanding the burden of infection of human populations in the surroundings of these endangered species is critical to assess the potential risk of spillover. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of SARS\u2010CoV2 and its associated risk factors in communities surrounding the Bwindi\u2013Mgahinga Conservation Area in Uganda.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross\u2010sectional study was conducted among 576 participants from the districts of Kanungu, Kisoro and Rubanda. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected and analysed using real\u2010time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT qPCR) at the Uganda Virus Research Institute. Demographic and behavioural data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered via KoboToolbox. Data analysis was performed using Stata (version 16) with cross\u2010tabulation to generate descriptive statistics of demographic characteristics, self\u2010reported non\u2010pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and SARS\u2010CoV2\u2010specific RNA status.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The overall prevalence of SARS\u2010CoV2 was 8.0%. Prevalence was highest in Kanungu (10.7%), followed by Kisoro (6.1%) and Rubanda (5.0%). Washing hands often was the only self\u2010reported NPI associated with SARS\u2010CoV2 prevalence (\n                      <jats:italic>X<\/jats:italic>\n                      <jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup>\n                      \u00a0=\u00a05.5,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0=\u00a00.02).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>SARS\u2010CoV2 was present among communities surrounding the Bwindi\u2013Mgahinga Conservation Area. Strengthening adherence to preventive measures, such as hand hygiene, is essential to reduce transmission risk within communities and potential spillover to endangered mountain gorillas.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/puh2.70403","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,4]],"date-time":"2026-10-04T16:46:08Z","timestamp":1791132368000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Prevalence of SARS\u2010CoV2 in Communities Surrounding Bwindi\u2013Mgahinga Mountain Gorilla Conservation Area, Uganda"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"5","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2225-463X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joseph M.","family":"Kungu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity Makerere University  Kampala Uganda"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joan","family":"Neumbe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Central Public Health Laboratories Ministry of Health  Kampala Uganda"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dan Brian","family":"Kiganira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity Makerere University  Kampala Uganda"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Patience","family":"Tino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity Makerere University  Kampala Uganda"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Josephine","family":"Namayanja","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries  Entebbe Uganda"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ronald","family":"Kassuja","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity Makerere University  Kampala Uganda"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Annet","family":"Nankya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Uganda Virus Research Institute  Entebbe Uganda"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"John B.","family":"Nizeyi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity Makerere University  Kampala Uganda"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,4]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_14_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3402\/iee.v4.20710","article-title":"A Need for One Health Approach\u2014Lessons Learned From Outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever in Saudi Arabia and Sudan","volume":"4","author":"Hassan O. 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