Foamy virus: simian foamy virus (SFV), a retrovirus in the Spumaretrovirinae subfamily, is widely prevalent in wildcaught and captive-born non human primates. 45, 46 Contamination between non-human primates and humans can occur via contact with infectious body fluids, through biting, 45, 47 or when manipulating fresh bush-meat. 48, 49 However, the potential for SFV to become a human disease and to spread among human populations after crossspecies transmission is not yet fully understood. 50 Human monkeypox: Human monkeypox, caused by the MPXV, a member of the genus Orthopoxvirus, is clinically almost identical to ordinary smallpox. 51 Humans become infected through direct contact with infected wild animals. It seems that monkeys are also incidental hosts as the reservoir species of MPXV remain unknown (most likely one or several rodents living in secondary forests of Central Africa). 51 Epidemiological surveys recorded 47 cases of human monkeypox (7 lethal) in Central Africa (RDC, Gabon, Congo, CAR, Cameroun, Ivory Cost, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria) 52 with possible secondary transmission in the human population. Since 1980, the large majority of cases to be reported from the DRC mainly concern children. 51 In 72% of those cases, an animal source of infection was suspected whereas secondary transmission from human source was presumed for the remaining cases. The longest documented chain of infection did not exceed four generations of person-to person transmission. There is only little probability of a large epidemic spread of MXPV. 53 Rift valley fever virus (RVFV): Rift Valley fever is an African disease that affects both livestock and humans. RVF outbreaks are associated with persistent heavy rainfall, sustained flooding and appearance of large numbers of mosquitoes, the main vector. Localized heavy rainfall is seldom sufficient to create conditions for an outbreak; 54, 55 Rift Valley fever is a good example of a disease that is well coupled with climatic anomalies; and Gabon is one of the African countries known to have some evidence of RVFV circulation as antibodies of the disease has been found in humans and livestock. 55 Impact of a changing environment Climatic variations and extreme weather events have a profound impact on infectious diseases: 56 for example, the emergence of vector-borne diseases is highly sensitive to changes in environmental conditions (rainfall, temperature, severe weather events). 56 Indeed arthropod vectors (that is mosquito, ticksy) are devoid of thermostatic mechanisms, hence reproduction and survival rates are strongly affected by fluctuations in temperature. 37 A rise in arthropodborne EID events due to climate anomalies has been observed during the 1990's. 3 Average global temperatures are predicted to be 1.0-3.51C by 2100. 57 Further epidemic events of vector-borne diseases due to climate change are, therefore, to be expected. Concerning other zoonotic infectious diseases like ebola, marburg or RVF, too little information is available concerning their ecology to be able to assess the impact of climate changes on the potential emergence or re-emergence of these diseases. However some preliminary reports show a strong association between wet environment (rainfall and hydrographic conditions directly dependent on climate and climate change) and the recent reemergence of ebola fever in Gabon and RDC. 58 Also El Niño/Southern oscillation (ENSO) is the strongest naturally occurring source of climate variability around the globe, 59 and more than 75% of RVF outbreaks between 1950 and 1988 occurred during warm ENSO event periods. 54 Moreover, RVF epidemics between 1950 and 1998 have coincided with unusually high rainfall in East Africa. 60 Epidemic prevention and control Existing structures in Gabon (data cited below was updated in 2007, ministry of public health, Gabon 61 ) Gabon has one of the highest expenditure on health per capita in Africa. In 2006, Gabon's total health care expenses were comparable to eastern European countries and most southern American countries: 62 This public Health system geographically covers most of the country allowing a good access to sanitary information and efficient monitoring of emerging diseases. However, access to treatment and prevention is much better in urban areas where medical structures are more developed, more organized with higher level of technicality and material 61 while the population is equally distributed between urban and rural areas ( Table 2) . A total of 60% of human and equipment resources from the Gabonese government are allocated to the main cities. In fact, all hospitals and clinics are found in Libreville, Port Gentil, Franceville and the surrounding areas, whereas in the distant rural areas, the numerous small health structures like Mother and Child Health Centers, Health Medical Centers, and Primary Care Health Center (Table 2 ) are often old with limited basic equipment and drugs. 61 Also the medical staff is more concentrated in urban areas (Table 3) . Indeed, more than 70% of the doctors and midwives are assigned to urban areas as well as 58% of the druggists. Only public nurses are equally distributed between rural and urban areas.