Sub-regional OIE/FAO/WHO training workshop on infectious substances shipment and on laboratory biorisk management, Tunis, Tunisia (25 - 29 November 2013)

The action plan of the Mediterranean Animal Health Network (REMESA) approved by the Member States CVO in 2010 requires that biosafety and biosecurity in Animal Health Laboratory are strengthened.

The importance of biosafety and containment practices is now well recognized : the manipulation of microorganisms, which are in some cases zoonotic agents, is a potential source of infection, sometimes severe, for laboratory staff.

The risk of contamination of laboratory staff and spreading of pathogens in the environment, during handling or shipping to foreign laboratories (reference laboratories, for example) may be reduced in accordance with the established biosafety practices and principles. These practices are even more crucial when the confinement conditions don’t fully meet the recommendations or regulations issued by national authorities or international organizations.

In the framework of its efforts to strengthen the capacity of North African countries, the Regional Coordinating Unit of REMESA (Sub regional Representation for North Africa of the World Organization for Animal Health - OIE - and the Sub regional Office for North Africa of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - FAO) organized in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), a sub- regional training workshop on Biorisk management in laboratory and shipment of infectious substances.

The workshop's preparation and arrangement were carried out by FAO sub-regional office in Tunis and OIE sub-regional representation in Tunis, in close collaboration with WHO Geneva.

The workshop was co-funded by FAO and OIE.

(Editor: Lilian PUECH, FAO-ECTAD-AN)