Africa CDC continues to support the Mpox response in Africa through efforts such as strengthening diagnostic capacity, surveillance, case detection and management, contact tracing, and infection prevention and control (IPC). Africa CDC supports National Institute of Public Health (INSP) with sample management and referral, biosafety and biosecurity training, and strengthening molecular testing and sequencing capacity to strengthen laboratory diagnostic capacity for mpox and other pathogens did.
From September 30 to October 4, 2024, Africa CDC collaborated with INSP in Bujumbura, Burundi to conduct training sessions on sample management and referral, biosafety and biosecurity. A total of 17 participants from 17 states and 15 participants from 14 states participated in sample management and referral, biosafety and biosecurity training.
Africa CDC is working with African Union member states and partners to build multi-disease detection and sequencing capacity for early detection and better characterization of priority diseases in Africa. “Our support to Burundi is consistent with the continent’s efforts to strengthen testing systems to strengthen early warning surveillance, outbreak detection and effective response,” said Acting Director of the African Center for Testing and Diagnostic Systems. said Dr. Yenew Kebede Tebeje. Disease control and prevention.
The training covered practical procedures for the safe collection, handling, transportation, and storage of biological samples, as well as guidelines on how to effectively refer samples to appropriate laboratories for testing and diagnosis. Important biosafety and biosecurity measures to protect healthcare workers and the community from potential exposure to infectious agents such as mpox were also highlighted. Participants were also trained in biosecurity practices to prevent unauthorized access to samples and laboratory facilities.
The training was practical and provided participants with the skills necessary to safely collect, pack, handle, and transport infectious materials. This is important to maintain the quality and integrity of mpox samples for testing and characterization. Participants were trained in biorisk management, risk assessment, bioethics, occupational hygiene, prevention of laboratory-associated infections, IPC, biowaste management for mpox and other infectious diseases. One of the core competencies of the IHR (2005) is to provide Member States with the reliable and timely identification and characterization of infectious agents in laboratories, including the dispatch of specimens to appropriate laboratories. It requires that a mechanism be established to do so. Training and additional support from the Africa CDC will help achieve the objectives of the IHR, particularly in the areas of detection, assessment, response, notification, and monitoring of health events.
INSP Director-General Professor Joseph Nyandowi opened the training session with sample management and biosafety, to control sample integrity and quality of mpox testing, and to minimize the risk of mpox transmission due to sample mishandling. He said lessons on biosecurity were a priority area for INSP. Infectious substances. “The management of dangerous pathogens and biological materials requires a high degree of care, professionalism and technical skill, especially when transporting such materials within the country,” he added.
Professor Nyandwi stressed that these training sessions are not just events. These represent important moves to foster a culture of safe handling and transportation of biological agents.
Trained participants are expected to apply their knowledge in a real-world setting to improve sample management and referral processes while ensuring biosafety and biosecurity practices. These results are crucial for an effective response to the mpox outbreak and will generally contribute to strengthening sample introduction, biosafety and biosecurity measures in Burundi.
Africa CDC also strengthened Burundi’s response to the ongoing mpox outbreak by donating critical equipment and materials. The donation includes Illumina MiniSeq sequencing systems and reagents, high-performance computer servers, mpox qPCR test kits, and other essential supplies. In addition, the INSP team is trained in molecular testing, sequencing, and result interpretation. “These resources provided and the skills built will strengthen the country’s molecular testing and sequencing capacity, enable accurate and timely detection and characterization of mpox cases, and increase national testing and pathogen detection capacity. Yes,” said Dr. Yenew Kebede.
