ABSTRACT
Introduction: Malaysia's National Polio Laboratory (NPL) has been appointed as the National Poliovirus Containment Coordinator (NPCC) in 2000 to minimize the number of facilities retaining potentially infectious materials, poliovirus (PIM). PIM is defined as respiratory, faecal, or environmental sewage samples, and derivatives such as permissible poliovirus cell culture, Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), collected for any purpose before 31 December 2020. However, all monitoring activities were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. In addition, Polio outbreaks occurred in Sabah and WP Labuan at the same time which leads to the large-scale use of OPV to respond to widespread vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) outbreaks, it could generate new PIM, which requires an update in the NPCC record database. Material(s) and Method(s): The main objective of the study is to ensure compliance of all country states to the requirement of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) by WHO by providing a database and evidence of action. As per the WHO Global Action Plan III (GAP III) guidelines, meetings and site visits were conducted with the government and non-government bodies that are keeping and handling PIM. In 2019, 588 survey forms were sent to 141 government hospitals, 6 government agencies (veterinary, fishery, chemical, research institutions), 19 major private laboratories, 209 private hospitals, and 16 public universities. Result(s): Out of the 588 facilities that received the survey forms, only 177 facilities have completed the survey. 173 facilities declared that they did not store any PIM, whilst 4 institutions had informed that they had completed inventories for their PIM storage and had discarded the identified materials accordingly. The other 411 facilities have informed the NPCC that they did not have any PIM and are still completing the survey forms. Conclusion(s): The NPCC actively adhered to the recommendation by GAP III guidelines for the containment activities by conducting national surveys, laboratory inspections, consultations, and inventories of records. Based on the findings, most of the laboratories that responded to the survey did not keep any PIM and follow the procedures as per the guideline. Continuous monitoring of PIM is required although the Polio outbreak was declared ended on 9th September 2021 in Malaysia. This study will be a reference for future planning by the ministry and authorities with regards of the Biosafety and Biosecurity regulations involving laboratories working with infectious materials.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Although whole genome sequencing (WGS) is the gold standard for genomic surveillance to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants, it is expensive and time-consuming to perform. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) based assays which detect mutations associated with SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) are cost-effective alternatives to whole genome sequencing. In this study, we evaluated the Omicron detection using RT-PCR-based assays at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport among the international travelers during the November to December 2021 period. Material(s) and Method(s): All SARS-CoV-2 samples originated from KLIA with cycle threshold (CT) <30 were subjected to RT PCR-based assays to detect SARS-CoV-2 spike gene mutations. Subsequently, the detection of the mutations by RT-PCR was compared to VOC detection by WGS. Result(s): A total of 1764 COVID-19 positive samples were subjected to RT-PCR to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants based on spike protein mutations. Of these, 1264 samples were detected as presumptive Omicron cases with the first presumptive Omicron case detected on the 1st of December 2021. The detection of the first Omicron case and subsequent increase in the Omicron detection by RT-PCR corresponded well with data from WGS. The detection of Omicron cases using RTPCR was significantly faster than the detection by WGS. Conclusion(s): The rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern using RT-PCR may have an important impact on local public health policies. In addition, the variant diversity of Omicron and non-Omicron detected among international travelers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport correlated with global diversity indicating the importance of travel hubs for SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance.