Projects

The aim of this research project is to evaluate long-term sequelae of Covid-19 that may have occurred in members of the Swiss Armed Forces. By following up on those army personnel who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 and comparing them with those who test negative, symptoms and sequelae of the infection and impact on life quality can be tracked. The acquired data will also provide insights into the duration of immunity (or lack thereof) after symptomatic and asymptomatic infection and the kinetics of antibody decline in those who test positive. The data collected with an extensive test battery allow for a follow-up on several body systems, including impact on ophthalmological function, on life quality and activities and impact on male fertility. The results of the study will have a societal impact and may also be relevant for other sectors as this cohort is very similar to a large proportion of  health-care workers. Because the proposed test battery is very broad and comprehensive it may also detect so far unknown, long-term sequelae, which might provide insight in the pathophysiology and general understanding of consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this way, the study results may provide a basis to develop strategies to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 sequelae and allow for preparedness.

Project lead: Pat Schlagenhauf & Jeremy Werner Deuel
Funding: Swiss Armed Forces

EuroTravNet is the European sub-network of GeoSentinel and collates data on travel related illness imported to Europe. The project was initiated as an ECDC project. It complements existing national and European surveillance systems and can also identify outbreaks or infectious disease alerts in European travellers.
For more information and to participate please visit the project page.
The International Society of Travel Medicine

Project lead: Pat Schlagenhauf

GeoSentinel is the surveillance network of the ISTM and the US CDC. It consists of travel medicine experts on all continents who contribute data on ill travellers to a global database. This allows for descriptive analyses of destination-specific, infectious disease profiles and risk factors. In addition, it serves as an evidence base for the formulation of travel medicine recommendations.
For more information and to participate please visit the project page.

Project lead: Pat Schlagenhauf

This study aims to develop and evaluate a methodology to test hair samples from returned travellers, who took malaria chemoprophylaxis, in order to determine the concentration of anti-malarial medications in the body. It is important to ensure that adequate protective levels of anti-malarials are being achieved and to look at factors that may influence malaria drug levels attained such as age, sex, adherence or co-medications. Hair samples are often more convenient and easier to manage than blood samples. The testing is absolutely anonymous and we test only for anti-malarials.

For more information and to participate please visit the project page.
We would value your participation if you take anti-malaria chemoprophylaxis and if are willing to donate some hair after travel! For further details, please contact: +41 44 6344630 or patricia.schlagenhauf AT uzh.ch.
Information Sheet: German (PDF) (PDF, 49 KB), English (PDF) (PDF, 71 KB)

Project lead: Pat Schlagenhauf
Funding: MilMedBiol

This is a 4 year, Swiss National Science Foundation funded project called “Illness Tracking in Travellers”. The project evaluates at infections in travellers, focussing on mosquito-borne infections and respiratory infections. It will also detect outbreaks of travel-related illnesses using a mobile app and daily symptom questionnaires linked with location and climate data. The project is run in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, and the European EuroTravNet network, with app development by Antavi GmbH.

Traveller participation will be encouraged with features such as pop-up windows that provide information on common travel issues following “WHO International Travel and Health” advice. This research will define infectious disease profiles of travellers by age, sex, purpose of travel, location, climate and environmental factors and will pave the way for personalized travel health advice. It will revolutionize surveillance by allowing bottom-up reporting of illness symptoms by travellers, enabling the follow-up of long-term effects of arboviral infections. Clinical Trials

For more infomation please visit the project page: https://www.itit-travelhealth.org/

Project lead: Pat Schlagenhauf
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation

The project will allow us to evaluate if airplanes flying into Zürich airport carry stowaway mosquitoes. We will examine passenger and cargo compartments for exotic mosquitoes. Selection criteria for airplane will be the destination with mosquitoes of interest and the flights that are connected to Zürich airport. Mosquito traps will be placed in the cargo compartment by trained aircraft personnel and passengers and cargo compartments will be examined after return.

Project lead: Pat Schlagenhauf
Funding: German Environmental Agency

This is a survey of European expert opinion on malaria prevention recommendations for risk groups of malaria acquisitio. It aims to identify similarities and differences in approaches to malaria.

Project lead: Pat Schlagenhauf

This is a prospective, paired cohort study of the epidemiology of respiratory
pathogens in a cohort of Swiss Army staff deployed in Kosovo. It involves the use
of pre- and post-deployment nasal swabs which are tested for respiratory pathogens
by RT-PCR. Short questionnaires are also administered. These data will increase our understanding of respiratory morbidity and will form an evidence base for preventive strategies.

Project lead: Pat Schlagenhauf