Long-Term Study on Mosquito-Borne and Respiratory Virus Infections Tracking Virus Spread and Immunity in Fijis Central Division

What this Trial Is About

Fiji, a group of 332 islands in the South Pacific, faces risks from mosquito-borne viruses like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, as well as respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. These viruses pose public health challenges due to Fijis climate, mosquito species, and international connections. This research aims to gather up-to-date information on virus prevalence and immunity to help improve health policies in Fiji and nearby regions. The AEVI-Fiji Cohort Study is a 38-month observational study involving about 900 participants aged six years and older from randomly selected households in Fijis Central Division. Participants will be visited four times, one year apart, to provide blood samples for serological testing and complete questionnaires about their infection history. Throughout the study, those with suspected acute infections will be screened and monitored. Participants will be involved in four yearly visits where demographic information and blood samples are collected to measure immunity levels against arboviruses and respiratory viruses. The study will track changes in individual immunity over time and monitor acute infections via screening and sequencing. The primary goal is to assess herd immunity by the end of the first year, with ongoing follow-up to understand transmission dynamics and prepare for future outbreaks.

Cohort Study of Arbovirus and Other Emerging Virus Infections in Fiji: AEVI-Fiji Cohort.