Since 2016 the WHO Global Influenza Program (GIP) has been providing support to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in conducting regular face-to-face infectious substances shipment training (ISST). This is under the scope of a One Health activity work plan. The training aims to contribute to the safe and efficient transport of diagnostic specimens globally. In June 2024, the regional ISST was held in Dakar, Senegal, with 14 participants from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Senegal. This included 12 participants from the animal health sector and two from the public health sector (from the WHO National Influenza Centre, Institute Pasteur de Dakar).
Emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases pose a significant threat to health security, affect livelihoods, and may cause a significant economic impact with trade disruptions. In an increasingly interconnected world, the rapid detection, accurate diagnosis and appropriate response to disease outbreaks are critical for the containment of disease outbreaks and the mitigation of their socio-economic impact.
Molecular epidemiology through advanced analysis helps understand the route of introduction of a disease. This may require the sending of specimens to a specialized laboratory (e.g. FAO/WHO/WOAH Reference Centres, etc). Therefore, the timely and secure shipments, transport or receipt of biological specimens is essential. International regulations on transport requires a sender of infectious substances be trained and certified under an internationally coordinated training scheme. FAO became aware that many national veterinary laboratories in developing countries do not have certified staff or have trained staff with expired certificates. This may cause delays in confirming and hence in responding to disease outbreaks.
WHO GIP has been providing support to FAO in conducting ISST for west and central African countries since 2016. The training is based on material produced by WHO and leads to the award of a certification on the 'Training on Transport of Infectious Substances by Air'. This allows participants to officially ship dangerous goods pathogens in accordance with international regulations.
Background
FAO has been partners with USAIDs on the prevention, detection and response to animal and public health emergencies since 2004. The USAID's collaboration through FAO's Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) has been strengthening animal health systems across Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Near East. With a global grant agreement (2022-2027) of US$ 250 million, it contributes to strengthening critical capacities that prevent, detect, and respond to emerging infectious disease outbreaks around the world, and helps in identifying and timely responding to emerging infectious diseases of animal origin at source. These efforts improve livelihoods, food security, and health around the world. USAID and FAO have built 20 years of collaboration in this context, working with governments, the private sector and regional partners to shape a sustainable and robust system of preparedness and response to an array of human and animal health threats. This reduces vulnerabilities to future epidemics and pandemics and strengthens global health security. WHO GIP by proving regular training participates with FAO in this endeavour.
