Zimbabwe establishes environmental surveillance unit for polio detection

ZIMBABWE— Zimbabwe has taken a significant step forward in its fight against polio by establishing a new Environmental Surveillance (ES) unit within its National Polio Laboratory.

This development marks a crucial enhancement of the country’s public health infrastructure, enabling earlier detection of poliovirus and more effective response to potential outbreaks.

The creation of this unit is the result of collaborative efforts between the World Health Organization (WHO) and a grant from the Gates Foundation.

These efforts have enabled the acquisition of specialized equipment, the training of laboratory personnel, and the implementation of strict protocols to ensure accurate test results.

Environmental surveillance is a proven strategy in global polio eradication efforts, allowing countries to quickly identify and contain outbreaks.

 By testing wastewater samples, Zimbabwe can now gather critical data on virus circulation even before clinical cases emerge. This capability is particularly important in regions where traditional surveillance methods might miss early signs of poliovirus activity.

The official commissioning of the environmental surveillance laboratory at the University of Zimbabwe’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences was attended by key stakeholders.

These included representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Gates Foundation, eHealth Africa, the Ministry of Health and Child Care, and the University of Zimbabwe.

This event highlights the collaborative efforts dedicated to strengthening Zimbabwe’s laboratory network and ensuring the country remains equipped to detect and respond to poliovirus threats effectively.

Previously, Zimbabwe relied on sending environmental samples to regional laboratories for testing, which resulted in delayed results and response times.

However, with its own ES unit now operational, the country will benefit from faster detection and improved decision-making in the fight against polio.

 This advancement underscores the importance of continuous improvement and adherence to global standards, further solidifying the laboratory’s role in Africa’s efforts to eradicate polio.

Dr. Jude Kfutwah, WHO AFRO labs coordinator, emphasized that high-quality polio diagnostics are crucial for detecting and responding to polioviruses.

 Notably, all 16 polio laboratories in the WHO African Region received full accreditation in 2024, demonstrating a consistent improvement in laboratory quality and robust capacity.

The laboratories are staffed by dedicated experts who work tirelessly to uphold global standards, and continuous investment in quality assurance and innovation is key to achieving a polio-free future.

The Zimbabwe National Polio Laboratory has played a crucial role in detecting variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), with 45 isolates identified in wastewater between August 2023 and December 2024.

Additionally, in January 2024, a 10-year-old girl was diagnosed with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) caused by cVDPV2, marking the first human case in the country during that period.

 These findings highlight the importance of robust surveillance and vaccination campaigns to prevent further transmission.

The laboratory received full accreditation in 2022 to conduct virus isolation and intratypic differentiation techniques.

 Following this, it was recommended to establish environmental surveillance to track the virus in water and sewage.

By 2024, significant progress had been made in refurbishing the space for the ES laboratory, with works completed in 2025.

The staff received training from WHO and have begun independent testing of samples under technical supervision from the regional office and the regional reference lab of the NICD.

WHO has also implemented a quality control system to ensure timely and quality release of results.

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