Sars-CoV-2 (COVID-19) as a model for unknown pathogens
At the end of 2019, the first case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in Wuhan, China. The novel coronavirus is a new strain of coronavirus which had not been identified in humans before, spreading very quickly across the globe and causing one of the most serious pandemics of the 21st century.
The current rates of urbanisation, globalization, high mobility and trade, human pressure on the environment and climate change are favouring the emergence of unknown infectious diseases, i.e.“infections that have newly appeared in a population or have existed previously but are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range”. More than 60% of zoonoses and their incidence have significantly increased over time placing an additional burden on human and veterinary public health services.
Since its beginning, the MOOD project has been at the frontline of COVID-19 research. The COVID-19 case study implemented in this stage of the project adopts a retrospective approach with the aim to describe all scientific and development work produced by MOOD partners to address the needs of Public Health agencies and governments during the different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 activities
- In early 2022, MOOD partners were requested to provide details on the modelling work they implemented to help support the Covid-19 pandemic response.
- A total of 60 studies from 16 partners were reported.
- Preliminary results were presented during the Covid-19 case study on methodology used by partners, data used, missing data, their interaction with decision-makers, and level of communication on the work conducted.
- After a fruitful discussion with MOOD partners and users present, further analyses of existing data and collection of more detailed data from partners was agreed on.
- Further data collection includes elements covering data access, data sustainability, data standardisation, up- and down-scaling of surveillance activities, and collaboration between disciplines and countries.
- The work is aimed for publication, hence provide guidance on epidemic intelligence needs (notably from a data science perspective) for future unknown disease treats, leveraging the multi-national character of MOOD.
MOOD Contacts for COVID-19
Case Study Facilitator

Chiara Poletto,
researcher at Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), France
Modelling

Esther Van Kleef
Senior epidemiologist at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp
Contributor

Danijela Simic
Institute of Public Health of Serbia
Case Animator

Fanny Bouyer
Social Scientist at GERDAL
MOOD Coordinator

Elena Arsevska
Veterinary Epidemiologist at CIRAD, France
Upcoming meetings
Any question? Contact MOOD!
Content validated by: Elena Arsevska (CIRAD), Fanny Bouyer (GERDAL)