West Nile virus in Europe: New study puts Hungary in the spotlight

Why is Hungary considered a key country for the spread of West Nile virus in Europe? A new study by BNITM and Hungarian partner institutions shows how closely bird migration, wetlands, mosquitoes and climate change interact, and how the virus spreads from Hungary to many European countries. A One Health approach and genetic analyses are crucial for future early warning and prevention strategies.

Ebola outbreak in the DR of the Congo and Uganda

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, the rare Bundibugyo Ebola virus is spreading in regions affected by violence. Multiple epicentres, population movements and communities that are difficult to reach are hampering diagnosis, contact tracing and the provision of care. Assessments by researchers at the German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF).

Favipiravir: a new ray of hope for Lassa fever

Researchers from the BNITM and the UKE have conducted the first clinical trial on Lassa fever in Nigeria, in which favipiravir was compared with the current standard treatment in accordance with rigorous scientific criteria. The data, published in the scientific journal 'Nature Medicine', show that favipiravir is safe, well tolerated and a potential new standard of care.

New mechanism of parasite defence discovered

How does the immune system manage to combat intestinal parasites? Researchers at BNITM have identified a key molecule that plays a crucial role in controlling the early immune response. The findings provide new insights into the complex defence against worm infections and open up perspectives for future therapies. The results were published in the journal Mucosal Immunology.

The latest official communication from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccines and autism is undermining trust in vaccinations and health authorities. This is the finding of a study led by the University of Vienna, in collaboration with the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM). The findings have been published in the prestigious scientific journal "Science".

New technologies for malaria research

Malaria remains a global health threat, with case numbers rising again in recent years. Researchers at BNITM have been working for decades to better understand the pathogen. New bioinformatic analysis tools and artificial intelligence from the Data Science Center help to analyse complex data and open up new avenues for malaria research.