Hebrew University-led research offers a new framework for monitoring zoonotic diseases through biologging – and highlights the importance of global collaboration
In a world where zoonotic diseases like bird flu and COVID-19 continue to threaten humans and animals, new research suggests an innovative framework for early disease detection – using wildlife themselves as “gatekeepers.” By attaching devices Biologging With tiny biologging devices that track movements and behavior in near real-time, it is possible to identify early signs of the disease, track its spread, and provide health authorities with early warning that allows containment before the epidemic breaks out in full force.
The study, published in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution, led by Prof. Ran Nathan of the Movement Ecology Laboratory at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, presents a comprehensive framework for using animal movement data, collected through tiny wearable monitoring devices. The goal: to enable a shift from a reactive approach to late treatment to proactive prevention. The method could revolutionize the way we deal with zoonotic diseases such as avian influenza and even future pandemics similar to COVID-19.
Case Study: Patient 2021/22
“The avian influenza outbreak in the Hula Valley in the winter of 2021/22 was the largest outbreak in wildlife in Israel – it led to the deaths of approximately 8,000 cranes and even threatened public health,” said Prof. Nathan. “At the time, we were tracking ten cranes using GPS, and some of them died. The sightings of the mass mortality in the Hula Valley were difficult, but the data from the tagged cranes provided unprecedented insights for rapid management of the crisis. This is what led us to develop a general framework, which can be applied to a variety of diseases and different species.”
Six main uses
The new framework lists six main areas in which biologging can be used to combat disease:
- Early warning systems To identify unusual movement patterns that indicate infection.
- Real-time notifications When tagged animals enter sensitive areas.
- Detecting changes in behavior which indicate disease even before external signs appear.
- Insights into disease spread patterns across spaces and between different species.
- Information on intelligent management of dependencies, from targeted monitoring to adjustments in wildlife management policies.
- Models for predicting future epidemics Based on current traffic and environmental data.
A revolution in the "One Health" approach
The technology is advancing – but the logic is simple: when animals behave differently, it could be a warning sign. The new approach fits into the “One Health” model (One Health), which sees the close connections between human health, animals, and the ecosystem.
A multidisciplinary group of researchers participated in the study, including Idan Talmon, Sasha Pekarsky, Yoav Bartan and Niki Tia (Hebrew University), Wayne Getz (University of California Berkeley and University of KwaZulu-Natal), Pauline Kamath (University of Maine) and Rory Bowie (University of Berkeley).
“Imagine receiving a phone alert – not from a media outlet, but from a tagged animal – that a deadly virus is spreading,” said Prof. Nathan. “This is not science fiction. This is the future of public health.”
The researchers emphasize that challenges remain—costs, data management, and international collaboration—but the benefits far outweigh the difficulties. In an era of frequent outbreaks of zoonotic diseases, the question is not whether we can afford to take this approach—but whether we can afford not to.
The full scientific article: "Using wild-animal tracking for detecting and managing disease outbreaks" Available for reading inTrends in Ecology & Evolution In the link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2025.05.004
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