Africa CDC equips Burundi with enhanced lab capabilities for Mpox

BURUNDI—The Africa CDC has supported the Institut National de Santé Publique (INSP) in Burundi in strengthening its laboratory diagnostic capabilities for Mpox and other infectious diseases.

This assistance includes training on sample management, biosafety and biosecurity practices, and enhancing molecular testing and sequencing capacities, with a goal to boost Burundi’s laboratory systems and improve the country’s response to outbreaks.

As part of its broader effort to support the Mpox response across Africa, the Africa CDC has focused on building diagnostic capacity, improving surveillance, case detection, contact tracing, and strengthening Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures.

In collaboration with INSP in Bujumbura, Africa CDC conducted a series of training sessions to enhance the handling and management of biological samples from September 30 to October 4, 2024.

These training sessions focused on sample management, biosafety, and biosecurity protocols, and 32 individuals from various provinces participated.

The training covered practical aspects such as the safe collection, handling, transport, and storage of biological samples.

In addition, guidelines were provided on how to effectively refer samples to the appropriate laboratories for diagnosis.

Emphasis was placed on critical biosafety measures to protect healthcare workers and the community from exposure to infectious agents like Mpox.

 Biosecurity practices were also highlighted, aiming to prevent unauthorized access to biological samples and laboratory facilities. 

The hands-on approach of the training allowed participants to gain essential skills for the safe packaging, handling, and transportation of infectious substances.

This knowledge is vital for ensuring the integrity and quality of Mpox samples during testing and characterization.

Furthermore, participants were introduced to biorisk management, risk assessment, bioethics, occupational health, IPC, and biological waste management, which are all essential components in dealing with infectious diseases like Mpox.

The Africa CDC’s support is instrumental in accordance with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), which obligates member states to establish mechanisms for reliable and timely laboratory identification of pathogens.

The training directly contributes to meeting the IHR’s objectives, including detecting, assessing, and responding to health events.

Africa CDC continues to collaborate with African Union Member States and partners to build the continent’s multi-disease detection and sequencing capacities, aiming to improve early detection and characterisation of Africa’s priority diseases.

During the training, Dr. Yenew Kebede Tebeje, Acting Director of the Centre of Laboratory Diagnostics and Systems at Africa CDC, reaffirmed that the organization’s support for Burundi is aligned with a broader continental initiative to strengthen laboratory systems.

 This initiative aims to enhance early warning surveillance, outbreak detection, and the effective management of health responses.

Professor Joseph Nyandwi, Director General of INSP, emphasized that the training on sample management, biosafety, and biosecurity is a top priority.

He noted that maintaining the integrity of samples and ensuring the quality of testing for Mpox is crucial to minimizing the risk of transmission through mishandling of infectious materials.

Nyandwi also highlighted that the training represents more than just a series of events; it signifies a pivotal step toward cultivating a culture of safe biological material handling in Burundi.

In addition to the training, Africa CDC has donated essential equipment to enhance Burundi’s Mpox response further.

This includes an Illumina MiniSeq sequencing system, qPCR testing kits, and other critical materials, alongside a high-performance computer server.

The donation, coupled with training on molecular testing and sequencing, will enable accurate and timely detection of Mpox cases, strengthening the country’s overall testing capacity.

Dr. Tebeje expressed confidence that these resources and skills will significantly enhance Burundi’s ability to detect and characterize Mpox cases in a timely manner, contributing to the broader goal of improving health security across the continent.

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