Strengthening Regional Collaboration to Combat Rabies
On 21 May 2024, a crucial consultative meeting was held at the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) in Teko, Sierra Leone, representing a significant advancement in combating rabies and non-rabies lyssaviruses in the region. Hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), through its Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) in collaboration with partners such as the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the meeting aimed to strengthen regional capacity building and promote inter-sectoral and international collaboration on surveillance, control strategies, and diagnostics for these lethal diseases.
WOAH had previously supported the CVL with a transformative two-year rabies-twinning project, implemented by the United Kingdom's Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The project yielded significant improvements in quality management systems, biosafety, biosecurity, and rabies diagnostic testing. To sustain and expand this progress, APHA facilitated a connection between CVL-Teko and the Institut Pasteur de Guinée (IPGui) in Conakry, Guinea.
At the meeting, attended by key stakeholders including representatives from IPGui, CVL Teko, FAO, and volunteers, discussions centered on concrete steps to enhance collaboration and exchange expertise between Sierra Leone and Guinea. IPGui shared insights into their successful initiatives, including engaging veterinary students in rabies data collection and community outreach programs, which significantly improved reporting mechanisms for dog bites and rabies cases. Among the agreements reached were plans for Sierra Leonean laboratory technicians to receive training at the IPGui facility in Guinea, facilitated by potential funding opportunities. Additionally, the sharing of rabies isolate samples for sequencing between the two countries was prioritized pending the signing of a material transfer agreement (MTA). Exciting prospects for collaboration in Lassa fever research across the border were also explored, indicative of the broader scope for joint efforts in disease surveillance and control.
Furthermore, discussions highlighted the potential for exchange programs, with opportunities for visiting scientists and students to support ongoing laboratory activities in Sierra Leone. The meeting concluded with a tour of the CVL Teko laboratory, underscoring Guinea's commitment to supporting its regional partner by providing real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reagents for SARS-CoV-2 testing, a crucial resource in the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
This collaboration, facilitated by FAO ECTAD, showcased the potency of regional cooperation in tackling intricate public health challenges like rabies and other zoonotic diseases. Through the exchange of knowledge, pooling of resources, and unified action, Sierra Leone and Guinea are forging a path towards a safer, healthier future for their citizens and beyond.