We carried out a study aimed to understand the capacity in Colombia to identify, predict and respond to zoonotic events originated in wildlife. We analyzed the capacity for generation of new knowledge and surveillance in wildlife pathogens, the capacity for transporting samples to laboratories from wild and remote areas, and the capacity of laboratories to diagnose pathogens from wildlife. Our results showed that Colombia is not prepared to identify, predict and respond to zoonotic pathogens from wildlife. Some key factors for such capacity showed poor development. Nevertheless there are some straights and some political changes may have important impact for developing new knowledge and surveillance in the country. It seems Colombia is not aware of its location in a hotspot for the emersion of zoonosis from wildlife. The zoonotic pathogens and their ecology are hardly known. Surveillances have been carried out on few diseases.
We do not know what the situation is like in other countries in the Region. Considering that countries in the Neotropics could show the same key factors for the emersion of zoonotic diseases, we wonder what their capacity is like: ¿Are they developing capacity?, ¿Do the know their capacities? ¿Are they interested in the risk of zoonosis born in wildlife?

Attached Files: 

Nassar et al Capacidad colombiana para identificar oportunamente enfermedades zoonóticas de origen silvestre (web).pdf