Presentation at 3rd GRF One Health Summit 2015 Session Surveillance And Early Warning

1. MediLabSecure: Implementing a
network of virology and entomology
laboratories for a One Health approach
of vector-borne and respiratory viruses
in the Mediterranean and Black Sea
regions
VICTOIR Kathleen on behalf of the MediLabSecure
Network
GRF One Health Summit 2015, Davos, 5-7 October 2015

2. Some points for a better surveillance of vector borne
infectious diseases:
•Need for more efficient integrated disease surveillance
(lab, epi, multidisciplinar)
•Accessible integrated databases with information
exchange between all concerned parties
•Need for cross-border collaboration
•Regular evaluation of surveillance system
•Outbreak preparation and risk assessment
Negev et al. 2015 Int.J.Environ. Res. Public Health

3. A One Health Approach

4. General objectives
To increase, through capacity building, the health security in the
Mediterranean Area, South-East European and Black Sea region by
enhancing and strengthening the preparedness to common health
viral emergencies and biosafety management at national and
regional levels by the creation of a network of laboratories for a
better surveillance of infectious diseases in the region .
• 2014-2017 (48 months)
• European Union DEVCO / EuropeAid

5. Organisation
Coordination, communication and dissemination
Animal
Virology
Human
Virology
Public
Health
Medical
Entomology
Steering Team
Advisory Board (external)
MediLabSecure Member Laboratories and units/ Fpoints in MoH - CoE

6. Specific objectives
• Create a framework for collaboration to improve surveillance and
monitoring of emerging vector-borne viral diseases (arboviruses)
and emerging respiratory viruses
– Prevent spread of viruses and concerned vectors (mosquitoes)
– Prevent outbreaks of zoonotic viruses with an existing risk in the region
– Provide risk assessment of the emerging viruses (transmission,
spread, human impact...)
• Promote knowledge development and transfer of biosafety best
laboratory practices
• Improve integrated multi-sectorial surveillance (animal, human,
entomological)

7. Preventing Vector Borne Diseases around the Mediterranean &
Black Sea Regions by creating laboratory networks
Albania
Algeria
Armenia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Egypt
Georgia
Jordan
Kosovo
Lebanon
Libya
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Palestine
Serbia
Macedonia
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
Beneficiary countries (19)

8. General methodology
8

9. Selection Criteria
• Reference laboratory
• Being part of a national (emergency) team
• Priority to laboratories with both capacities:
arboviruses and respiratory viruses
• Diagnostic performance (PCR and serology)
• Basic laboratory equipment and lab capacities
• Existence of quality control procedures, lab SOPs
• Regional influence
 66 applicants in 19 countries

10. Selection of participating laboratories:
Albania (3), Algeria (3), Armenia (3), Bosnia and Herzegovina (3),
Egypt (3), Georgia (3), Jordan (3), Kosovo(3), Lebanon (3), Libya
(2) Moldova(2) , Montenegro (3) Morocco(4) Palestine (3)
Republic of Macedonia (3), Serbia (3), Tunisia (3),Turkey (3),
Ukraine (3) = 55
Selected Laboratories

11. Objectives:
 Inform participants about the network, its organization,
objectives and selection process
 Better overview of the capacity and needs in partner
countries
 Contribute to the roadmap for the next training sessions
 Networking, exchange of experience according to the
different disciplines
32 participants from 16 countries
Heads of Labs meeting
IP Paris, 14 – 15 January 2015

12. Outcomes of Heads of Lab
meeting (1)
Integrated surveillance

13. Outcomes of Heads of Lab
meeting (2)

14. Outcomes of Heads of Lab
meeting (3)

15. Outcomes of Heads of Lab
meeting (4) MERS-CoV
Specimen collection
General diagnostics of MERS-CoV
Case studies
Sequence analysis

16. Improve the diagnosis and understanding of the different zoonotic
viruses existing in the regions (West Nile, Crimean Congo
Haemorrhagic fever, RVF, Corona, etc.. ) by Training sessions.
Improve the level of biosafety in the laboratories
Enhance the networking among participating laboratories
WP2: Animal Virology
CISA-INIA, Madrid, Spain
Miguel-Angel Jimenez – Elisa Ramirez
WP3: Human Virology
Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
Jean-Claude Manuguerra & Camille Escadafal

17.  Systematic identification and geographical mapping of
major vectors of viruses found prevalent or potentially
present in the region.
 Making available of a web-based determination key
 Outline of Specific country/region-tailored measures for
control of mosquito vectors.
 Regional Training sessions
WP4: Medical Entomology
IRD, Montpellier, France
Vincent Robert & Marie Picard

18. General methodology
18

19. Challenges for the future
15-17 December 2015 – Institut Pasteur, Paris (France) joining different disciplines
meeting with special focus on risk assessment gathering
3 continents with different health systems: Regional meetings
Foster common databases (provide tools)
External Quality Assurance Excercises
Exchange of Scientists and Experts on identified gaps
E.g. Sending of experts to outbreak areas e.g. Goarn/MediLabSecure expert to
Jordan for MERS-Co Outbreak

20.  Facilitate integrated surveillance, risk assessment
and early case detection across the different project’s
areas of activity.
 Guidelines on the level of integration between
animal, human virology and medical entomology
surveillance for existing and potential diseases in the
Region
WP5: Public health
ISS, Rome, Italy
Silvia Declich, Maria Gracia Dente, Flavia Riccardo

21. www.medilabsecure.com

23. Thank you
The MediLabSecure Project is supported by the European Commission (DEVCO: IFS/21010/23/_194)The MediLabSecure Project is supported by the European Commission (DEVCO: IFS/21010/23/_194)