English: “Bats have been identified as important reservoir hosts for pathogens that are able to cross species barriers to infect humans and some species of animals. Although bats are known to pose a risk to human health, it has been shown that the zoonotic diseases result due to habitat encroachment, bushmeat consumption and urbanization. Long-term disease surveillance programs are needed to understand the viral dynamics in bats and how they impact on human, livestock and wildlife health (“One Health” concept) and how to prevent or curb the outbreak of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), while ensuring bat species are conserved. This photo shows a field scientist, with the necessary personal protection equipment, releasing a lesser short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus brachyotis) after taking morphometric measurements and biological samples.”