INVOLVEMENT OF THE AFRICAN VETERINARY LABORATORIES OF THE MEDILABSECURE NETWORK IN THE COVID-19 CRISIS

ABSTRACT

MediLab Secure is an EU-funded project whose main objective is to create a framework for collaboration to promote surveillance of viral zoonoses under a One Health approach in 22 countries of the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Sahel regions. During the COVID-19 crisis the project rapidly adapted to the emergency and provided technical assistance to the beneficiary countries in terms of diagnosis and surveillance in humans and animals. To evaluate the involvement of the veterinary laboratories of our network in the sanitary crisis and estimate the degree of intersectoral collaborations, an online survey was launched in April 2021. We received responses from 19 labs, 7 of them from African countries. Of these laboratories, 3 (Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania) were not involved in SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis despite having trained staff and all the protocols implemented. In these countries the cooperation of vet labs was not requested by the Ministry of Health despite their offer to collaborate. Nevertheless, two of these labs donated equipment and reagents to their Public Health institutions to help with the overwhelming demand of diagnostic materials. Three laboratories (Egypt, Senegal and Tunisia) were involved in SARS-CoV-2 molecular and serological diagnosis but only in animal samples (pets and animal food products). Only one veterinary laboratory (Niger) established full collaboration with the Ministry of Health and was intensively involved in the molecular diagnosis of human samples from May to September 2020. Moreover, vet specialists from this lab were also involved in the disinfection of contaminated premises. The results of this survey show the willingness to help veterinary labs in North Africa and Sahel regions to face a Public Health crisis caused by a zoonotic pathogen. Although the degree of intersectoral collaboration was low in most of the countries, the successful One Health experience of Niger could be a good example for future sanitary emergencies.