Castel G. auteur aut IRD Filippone C. auteur aut IRD Tatard C. auteur aut IRD Vigan J. auteur aut IRD Dobigny Gauthier auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Seoul orthohantavirus (SEOV) is not considered a major public health threat on the continent of Africa. However, Africa is exposed to rodentborne SEOV introduction events through maritime traffic after exponential growth of trade with the rest of the world. Serologic studies have already detected hantavirus antibodies in human populations, and recent investigations have confirmed circulation of hantavirus, including SEOV, in rat populations. Thus, SEOV is a possible emerging zoonotic risk in Africa. Moreover, the range of SEOV could rapidly expand, and transmission to humans could increase because of host switching from the usual brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) species, which is currently invading Africa, to the more widely installed black rat (R. rattus) species. Because of rapid economic development, environmental and climatic changes, and increased international trade, strengthened surveillance is urgently needed to prevent SEOV dissemination among humans in Africa. specialized AFRIQUE 052 080 29 1 20-25 2023 1080-6040 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010086825 10.3201/eid2901.221092 1080-6040 [F B010086825] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010086825 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2023-02/010086825.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2023-02-08 2025-02-24 fdi:010086825 fre