Each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) produces a list of
priority pathogens, for which scientific resources should be invested
towards in the upcoming year. These pathogens usually exhibit a higher
outbreak potential and do not have readily available medical
countermeasures. In Central and West Africa, more often than not, only
limited or outdated data is available on the prevalence of these
pathogens.
We are therefore working with local institutions in
Africa to provide them with training and diagnostic capacities.
Depending on the country, the targeted priority pathogens include
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus, Ebola virus, Marburg
virus, Lassa virus, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
(MERS-CoV), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus, Nipah virus
and henipaviral diseases, Rift Valley Fever (RVF) virus and Zika virus.
Monkeypox and Leptospirosis, for which the WHO also noted that a more
comprehensive surveillance program is needed, will also be included when
possible.
In addition to training local individuals, the above
research-based training program will provide information on the
prevalence of various infectious threats from the WHO list of priority
pathogens in various locations in Central and West Africa.