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SIMBA Project Updates

July 2026

Mapping Russian Biological Disinformation Targeting African Audiences

The GP WMD Counter Disinformation Initiative has analysed Russian biological disinformation across eight African countries, identifying recurring narratives about alleged Western-run biological laboratories, fabricated disease outbreaks and covert biological activities. The study finds that these claims are adapted to local political contexts, with Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa emerging as key targets. The findings underline the importance of countering biological disinformation to protect trust in public health, scientific cooperation and biological threat-reduction partnerships across Africa.

Since 2022, false claims about US-funded biological laboratories and covert Western biological activities have become a recurring feature of Russian disinformation targeting African audiences. New analysis by the GP WMD Counter Disinformation Initiative shows that these claims are not isolated rumours, but part of a broader and highly adaptive influence strategy.

The study examined Russian biological disinformation across eight African countries: Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria and South Africa. Using multilingual open-source research and structured narrative analysis, the team reviewed more than 200 sources, including news media, broadcast content and social media. The analysis focused on recurring narrative themes, dissemination patterns, key actors and potential impacts on public perceptions of health, science and international partnerships.

A small number of core narratives appeared repeatedly across the dataset, but they were adapted to different national contexts. The most prominent claims centred on allegations of Western-run biological laboratories and suggestions that foreign partners were undermining national sovereignty through covert biological activities. Other recurring themes included fabricated disease outbreak narratives, alleged violations of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, claims about the transfer or relocation of biological programmes, and narratives invoking named organisations or prominent Western figures.

The research found that these narratives were not distributed evenly. Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa formed the core of the campaign, accounting for the highest level of activity and the greatest narrative diversity. All three countries were repeatedly portrayed as sites of US-controlled biological laboratories or dual-use research activity.

Nigeria emerged as the principal target. It was depicted as a hub for alleged relocated US or Ukrainian biological programmes, as a site of pathogen research beyond international oversight, and as a source of supposedly fabricated outbreaks, including claims linked to mpox. Given Nigeria’s large population, regional influence and prominence within African and international media ecosystems, these narratives appear to be used to support a wider portrayal of Western biological exploitation across the continent.

The analysis also identified different roles within the wider narrative architecture. Kenya and South Africa often served as regional validators, lending apparent scientific and institutional credibility to broader claims. Côte d’Ivoire functioned primarily as a geographic validator, helping create the impression that alleged Western biological activities are widespread across Africa. Mali, by contrast, featured more strongly in narratives shaped by local conflict dynamics and security concerns.

One of the most significant findings was the relationship between Russian physical presence and disinformation activity. In countries where Russian military or paramilitary actors already maintain an established presence, including Mali and Libya, biological disinformation targeting Western actors was comparatively limited. Countries where Russia lacks a substantial on-the-ground presence experienced higher volumes of biological disinformation.

This pattern mirrors findings from the Initiative’s earlier research on NATO’s Eastern Flank. In both contexts, biological disinformation appears to function as an adaptive influence tool rather than a uniform propaganda campaign. Where Russia is seeking to expand influence, information operations intensify. Where its presence is already established, the need for such narratives appears to diminish.

The study also found that, although these narratives circulate in English- and French-language media spaces, many originate from Russian-language state and proxy sources before being adapted for local audiences. This points to a largely top-down dissemination model, with narratives generated in Russian information ecosystems and then localised for African contexts.

For SIMBA and the wider Global Partnership community, the findings are directly relevant. Biological disinformation can erode trust in laboratories, disease surveillance, public health cooperation and international scientific partnerships. Understanding how these narratives are constructed, adapted and disseminated is therefore essential to strengthening resilience, supporting effective public health communication and protecting legitimate biological threat-reduction work across Africa.

 

WOAH's biothreat reduction activities in Africa

Regional

WOAH, in collaboration with INTERPOL, organised a Regional Training on the Investigation of Suspicious Biological Events from 21–24 April 2026, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The training brought together representatives from the nine beneficiary countries of the Fortifying Institutional Resilience Against Biological Threats (FIRABioT) project to strengthen collaboration between Veterinary Services and Law Enforcement in preventing, detecting, and responding to agro-crime and agro-terrorism threats. Participants explored real-world case studies and received training on biological crime scene management, investigative techniques, chain of custody, threat assessments, and the investigation of suspicious biological events. The training resulted in the development of national action plans to strengthen joint investigation capabilities and intersectoral coordination. As a next step, participating countries will continue developing and implementing their national agro-crime roadmaps, while WOAH and INTERPOL are organising regional agro-crime simulation exercises to further assess preparedness and response mechanisms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenya

From 5–7 May 2026, WOAH through the FIRABioT project supported a National Tabletop Exercise on the deliberate release of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) held in Mombasa, Kenya. The exercise brought together representatives from Veterinary Services, public health institutions, laboratories, security agencies, emergency response structures, county governments, and development partners to assess Kenya’s preparedness and response capacity to deliberate biological events. The exercise identified strengths and operational gaps in surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, emergency coordination, biosecurity, and risk communication systems. Key outcomes included enhanced multisectoral collaboration, improved understanding of national contingency plans, and the development of recommendations to strengthen preparedness planning, workforce capacity, and response mechanisms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tanzania

From 1–5 June 2026, the Directorate of Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries of Tanzania, with support from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), convened a technical workshop in Arusha, Tanzania to develop the country's first Emergency Risk Communication (ERC) Strategy for Veterinary Services. The workshop brought together representatives from Veterinary Services, law enforcement agencies, and the media to strengthen preparedness and coordination for animal health emergencies and biological threat events.  Implemented under the FIRABioT project, the workshop resulted in a comprehensive draft ERC Strategy will now undergo validation and adoption processes before implementation. Once finalised, it will strengthen Tanzania's capacity to address biological threats, agro-crime, and mis- and disinformation while enhancing national and regional health security.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L – R: Fanny Ewann (INTERPOL), Samir Kebdani (Morocco) and Emmanuel Bouquot demonstrating biological crime scene management. Picture © J. Galiwango (woah) 2026

Participants during the drafting of the ERC strategy Picture © E. Wakabi (Nuo Bioscience), 2026

Participants engage in group discussions on during the HPAI tabletop exercise. Picture (c) D. Okiring 2026

Breaking the Silos: Health and Security Sectors Come Together to Strengthen Biosurveillance in Africa

A milestone at HSPA's Phase II Progress Review Meeting demonstrated how stronger collaboration between health and security sectors is helping African partner countries turn health security into practical action.

Since its launch in 2023, the Health Security Partnership to Strengthen Disease Surveillance in Africa (HSPA) has worked to strengthen collaboration between the health and security sectors as a cornerstone of biological threat reduction.

Implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), HSPA is funded by the Governments of Canada and the United Kingdom and contributes to the G7 Global Partnership's Signature Initiative to Mitigate Biological Threats in Africa (SIMBA) by supporting selected interventions across the area of integrated disease surveillance, epidemic intelligence, biosafety and biosecurity in seven African partner countries.

At the programme's Phase II Progress Review Meeting, held on 28–29 April 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa, this collaborative approach reached an important new milestone. For the first time, military and security representatives joined public health officials in a dedicated programme dialogue on biosurveillance, demonstrating how partner countries are translating HSPA's integrated approach to health security into practical national action.

The meeting brought together 45 participants from The Gambia, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa and Tunisia, alongside representatives from WHO, Africa CDC, RKI and Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Throughout the discussions, one message emerged clearly:

 

 

 

 

Bringing Health and Security Together

A dedicated Security Sector Engagement Session, moderated by RKI, explored the six core roles that defence and security institutions can play in biosurveillance and biosecurity—from surveillance and early detection to border health measures, emergency logistics, laboratory biosecurity, and coordination with civilian systems.

Drawing on country experiences, military representatives from The Gambia and Namibia, together with Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) national focal points from Morocco and South Africa, shared practical examples of how defence and security institutions are already strengthening outbreak detection, border surveillance, laboratory biosecurity and emergency response.

The discussions reinforced a simple but important message: strengthening national biosurveillance is not about creating new structures but about enabling existing health and security systems to work together more effectively. By building stronger coordination and trust across sectors, countries can detect, assess and respond to biological threats more quickly and effectively.

 

Turning Collaboration into Action

While many security institutions already play an important role in health security, participants agreed that structured coordination with civilian public health systems remains underdeveloped in many countries. Closing this gap is essential to strengthening national biosurveillance and epidemic intelligence.

Participants identified three priorities: establishing formal coordination mechanisms and trust between health and security institutions; developing secure data-sharing frameworks and transparent governance; and aligning donor investment with integrated biosecurity priorities. Against the backdrop of continued funding challenges facing implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention, participants also underscored the importance of sustained investment in practical partnerships that strengthen national capacity.

South Africa's collaboration between the Department of Health, the South African Police Service and the South African Military Health Services was highlighted as a practical example of how formalised cooperation can strengthen national biosurveillance—and a model that other HSPA partner countries can adapt.

 

A Milestone for Health Security

The Johannesburg meeting marked a milestone in strengthening collaboration between health and security sectors, demonstrating how integrated approaches can build more resilient national biosurveillance systems. When military early warning systems, border health surveillance, laboratory biosafety and civilian epidemiology work together, countries are better equipped to detect, assess and respond to biological threats—whether natural, accidental or deliberate.

For the G7 Global Partnership and its Signature Initiative to Mitigate Biological Threats in Africa (SIMBA), the meeting demonstrated the value of investing in integrated approaches that strengthen both public health and national security. By breaking down traditional silos between health and security sectors, HSPA is turning health security from vision into action—demonstrating that investments in disease surveillance, epidemic intelligence, biosafety and biosecurity are critical investments in national and regional security.

Field visit to the South Africa Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), where HSPA-funded infrastructure supports real-time disease surveillance dashboards, during the HSPA Phase II Progress Review Meeting, Johannesburg, South Africa, 28–29 April 2026.

Group photo of participants at the HSPA Phase II Progress Review Meeting, 28–29 April 2026, Johannesburg, South Africa.

“Health security is national security.”

—HSPA Phase II Progress Review Meeting, Johannesburg, April 2026

Health Security Partnership to Strengthen Disease Surveillance in Africa (HSPA) – Webinar

  • “Transforming Biosafety Practice and Training: Risk and Evidence Based Digital Solutions” (15th of July)
  • [Upcoming] “Earth Observation for Ebola Response in Eastern DRC: Reflections on Improving Situational Awareness in Hard-to-Reach Areas” (26th of August)

HSPA – Public Health Intelligence (PHI) Foundations training in Tunis

From 18 to 22 May, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), together with the Tunisian National Observatory of New and Emerging Diseases (ONMNE), and with support from WHO EMRO and the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, delivered a Public Health Intelligence (PHI) Foundations training in Tunis, Tunisia. The programme, based on the PHI Competency Framework and Curriculum, jointly developed by RKI, the WHO Hub, and global partners, was adapted to the local context following the roadmap agreed during Phase I under work area 7 – epidemic intelligence. Professionals from multiple institutions were brought together to strengthen capacities in integrated surveillance and response through an all-hazards and One Health approach. On the final day, two activities were held: a workshop on the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) tool, including experience sharing from Lebanon and Germany, and a meeting on integrating event- and indicator-based surveillance systems in the country. This training was supported by Global Affairs Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program and the Government of the United Kingdom.

HSPA - Strengthening genomic surveillance in Morocco and Tunisia through bioinformatics infrastructure and training

Summary

Early and accurate detection of infectious disease threats remains a major challenge across Africa. To help address this, the Health Security Partnership in Africa (HSPA), implemented under the SIMBA initiative, is strengthening disease surveillance and biosecurity across partner countries.

In May 2026, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), which leads HSPA's work package on genomic surveillance, supported partner institutions in Morocco and Tunisia by expanding bioinformatics infrastructure and delivering hands-on training. By combining the installation of computing resources with practical workshops, the initiative enables laboratories to analyse genomic sequencing data locally and enhances their capacity to detect, monitor and investigate infectious disease threats.

The workshops were held at the Institut National d'Hygiène (INH) in Rabat, Morocco, and Hôpital Charles Nicolle (HCN) in Tunis, Tunisia. Together, they equipped participants with the knowledge, skills and infrastructure needed to strengthen genomic surveillance.

The training programmes were tailored to each country's public health priorities. In Morocco, participants focused on bioinformatics tools for viral pathogen surveillance, while the workshop in Tunisia concentrated on bacterial pathogens. This targeted approach helps build national expertise while contributing to stronger regional genomic surveillance.

Building the infrastructure for genomic data analysis

Effective genomic surveillance depends on robust computing infrastructure capable of processing and securely storing large volumes of sequencing data. To meet these requirements, the project expanded existing resources where possible and installed new equipment where additional capacity was needed.

In Tunisia, the team upgraded an existing genomic data analysis system established through an earlier collaboration with the Robert Koch Institute. The enhanced system now provides a reliable platform for analysing genomic data locally.

In Morocco, a new bioinformatics system was installed at the Institut National d'Hygiène, including a high-performance workstation and secure data storage for long-term data management. In addition, the Institut Pasteur du Maroc received a high-performance laptop, providing researchers with greater flexibility to carry out bioinformatic analyses.

The installations were completed in close collaboration with the IT teams at both institutions, who integrated the systems into local networks, established secure access and ensured reliable power and internet connectivity. As a result, both partner laboratories can now perform computationally intensive genomic data analyses independently and on site.

Tailored training for high-risk pathogens

The workshops brought together experts from the Robert Koch Institute and partner institutions in Morocco and Tunisia to strengthen local capacity for genomic surveillance through practical, hands-on training and knowledge exchange.

At the Institut National d'Hygiène in Rabat, eight participants from the Institut National d'Hygiène and the Institut Pasteur du Maroc worked alongside RKI experts to analyse genomic data from viral pathogens, including Influenza A virus and SARS-CoV-2. Together, they explored methods to check the quality of sequencing data, identify genetic changes and compare virus genomes. These skills support the identification of circulating variants and strengthen national and international disease surveillance.

At Hôpital Charles Nicolle in Tunis, RKI experts and local scientists jointly worked through the analysis of genomic data from clinically important bacterial pathogens, including Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Five participants learned how to check the quality of sequencing data, assemble and annotate bacterial genomes, and identify antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors. The collaborative training strengthened local capacity to support antimicrobial resistance surveillance and laid the foundation for continued scientific exchange between the partner institutions.

Building sustainable partnerships

Through the Health Security Partnership in Africa (HSPA), the Robert Koch Institute and its partner institutions in Morocco and Tunisia worked together to expand bioinformatics infrastructure and expertise for genomic surveillance. By combining new computing resources with practical, hands-on training, the collaboration has enabled partner laboratories to analyse genomic data locally while laying the foundation for continued cooperation.

To support long-term implementation, all bioinformatics workflows and training materials remain available through shared GitHub repositories, enabling partner laboratories to continue applying and further developing the methods introduced during the workshops.

These activities demonstrate the value of HSPA in fostering long-term partnerships, improving genomic surveillance capabilities and supporting preparedness for emerging infectious disease threats across Africa.

Fig. 1: Participants of the hands-on workshop at the Institut National d’Hygiène in Rabat (with the participation of the Institut Pasteur du Maroc). (Source: RKI)

Fig. 2: Bioinformatic data analysis and pathogen surveillance at the Hôpital Charles Nicolle in Tunis, Tunisia. (Source: RKI)

Strengthening Biosafety and Biosecurity Education Through Experiential Learning: The Ongoing IFBA–RCoEBB–CIHEB Collaboration Supporting MMUST Student Mentorship and Capacity Building

The International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA), in collaboration with the Regional Centre of Excellence for Biosafety and Biosecurity (RCoEBB) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and the Centre for International Health/Education/Biosecurity Tanzania (CIHEB), continues to advance structured mentorship and experiential learning opportunities for Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) students enrolled in the world’s first BSc. Biosafety and Biosecurity undergraduate degree program. This partnership is aimed at bridging theoretical training with practical exposure within high-level laboratory and public health systems in Tanzania.

Through this collaboration, and with continued support from Global Affairs Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program and the Global Partnership’s Signature Initiative to Mitigate Biological Threats in Africa (GP SIMBA), six MMUST students undertaking their co-op field attachment have been actively engaged in practical learning experiences organized and facilitated jointly by IFBA, the Tanzania Biological Safety Association, RCoEBB, CIHEB, the Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency (TVLA) and the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL). These placements have provided valuable exposure to biosafety and biosecurity practices, laboratory quality management systems, pathogen asset control, emergency preparedness, and processing infectious disease samples under the guidance of experienced professionals.

In addition, the students participated in a biorepository workshop in Arusha, jointly organized by CIHEB, IFBA, and RCoEBB, which provided training on biobanking principles, specimen lifecycle management, ethics, quality assurance, and the role of biorepositories in research and disease surveillance, thereby strengthening their understanding of best practices and applied laboratory skills.

Building on this experience, a forthcoming mentorship program is planned in Dar es Salaam, jointly coordinated by IFBA, RCoEBB, and CIHEB. The mentorship will be hosted at the Muhimbili National Hospital Reference Laboratory, where students will gain further experience in the safe and secure handling of dangerous biological specimens, advanced laboratory operations, and integrated public health laboratory systems.

The IFBA–RCoEBB–CIHEB collaboration is strengthening MMUST students’ technical capacity through integrated field attachment, training, and mentorship contributing to the development of practical skills, professional exposure, and networks for biosafety, biosecurity, and global health security.

MMUST students with their mentor at the Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency (TVLA), where they received an overview of biosafety and biosecurity practices, laboratory quality management systems, and pathogen asset control.

Participants Including MMUST students with their certificates after successfully completing their Biorepository Training in Arusha, Tanzania from 15th June- 19th June, 2026

Meeting of CEPI's Centralised Laboratory Network and Preclinical Laboratory Network

Between 15-18 June 2026, members of CEPI's Centralised Laboratory Network and Preclinical Laboratory Network gathered in Cape Town, South Africa to discuss how they can strengthen collaboration and make the goal of developing a vaccine against a future viral threats in 100 days a reality. Representing almost 40 facilities, and located in all world regions, these labs develop specialised tools and disease replicas to evaluate the performance of vaccines – critical capabilities needed, at speed, in the event of an epidemic, and a core component of CEPI’s next 5-year strategy. Discussions included a central focus on biosecurity and biosafety as well as laboratory sustainability.

For more details:

SIMBA-Luso Multisectoral Workshop

The Signature Initiative to Mitigate Biological Threats in Africa (SIMBA) continues to advance its work in Lusophone countries. From 24-27 March 2026, the SIMBA-Luso Multisectoral Workshop was held at the Strategic Analysis Center of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CAE-CPLP) in Maputo, Mozambique. Co-organized by the SIMBA-Luso consortium and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), the event brought together experts representing human and animal health, defence, agriculture, radiological security and academic sectors to strengthen regional biosafety and biosecurity capacities in a context of hybrid, transsectorial threats.

The four-day programme progressed from strategic discussions covering he implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) to practical sessions covering biological risk management, laboratory infrastructures, and the secure transport of infectious substances. The workshop concluded with a multisectoral tabletop exercise, allowing participants to test inter-agency coordination and response protocols against realistic biological threat scenarios.

A central theme of the workshop was the necessity of viewing biosecurity as a critical investment in national sovereignty and economic resilience. This perspective is foundational to the newly drafted white paper, " Biological Security as a National Strategic Investment", which was presented for inter-institutional consultation.  

Following the workshop, participants highlighted a strong demand for the need for national roadmaps for intersectoral coordination and enhanced preparedness for bioterrorism scenarios. The event fostered sustainable, country-driven biological risk management.

Learn more about the SIMBA-Luso initiative and the BioSentinel platform at: https://simbaluso.org

Image 1: IMG_4023.jpgCaption: Participants of the SIMBA-Luso Multisectoral Workshop gathered at the Centro de Análise Estratégica da Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa (CAE-CPLP) in Maputo, Mozambique. Credit: SIMBA-Luso Project

Image 2: IMG_4034.jpgCaption: Multisectoral experts from health, defense, agriculture, and academia participate in a practical tabletop exercise to test inter-agency coordination against biological threats. Credit: SIMBA-Luso Project

Building Sustainable Biosafety Capacity in West Africa: How PROALAB is Strengthening Regional Preparedness Through WABNet

Biological threats know no borders. Strengthening preparedness therefore requires more than individual training courses or isolated investments. It demands resilient laboratory systems, skilled professionals, and strong regional collaboration. Across West Africa, the Strengthening Epidemiological Surveillance and Laboratory Systems in the ECOWAS Region (PROALAB) project is helping to build these foundations through a comprehensive One Health approach that strengthens both laboratory infrastructure and technical capacity. Implemented by the West African Health Organization (WAHO) with funding from the German Development Bank (KfW), PROALAB currently supports 25 regional and national reference laboratories across nine ECOWAS countries while laying the groundwork for imminent expansion to additional Member States and up to 33 laboratories.

A major pillar of the programme is biosafety and biosecurity, recognizing that safe laboratory practices are essential for preventing accidental or deliberate release of dangerous pathogens. To advance this objective, PROALAB established the West African Biorisk Management Network (WABNet) in 2021, bringing together representatives from all 15 ECOWAS Member States alongside partners including the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA), the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), Fondation Mérieux, and other regional stakeholders. WABNet provides a sustainable platform for regional collaboration, harmonization of biosafety practices, and long-term capacity development.

Since its establishment, WABNet has significantly expanded the region's pool of qualified biosafety professionals. Between 2021 and 2025, PROALAB supported four multilingual regional Biorisk Management training programmes with internationally recognized IFBA certification. As a result, West Africa has grown in the number of certified professionals across all ECOWAS Member States. These professionals now serve as national trainers and mentors, enabling countries to cascade knowledge locally while strengthening sustainable national biosafety and biosecurity programmes. Recognizing that effective biological waste management is a critical component of biosafety, PROALAB also expanded its activities to include IFBA-certified Biological Waste Management (BWM) training. Working in collaboration with the Africa CDC Regional Centre of Excellence hosted by the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, the programme has certified 55 professionals from 13 West African countries in the safe segregation, handling, treatment, and disposal of infectious waste. These efforts are helping laboratories to reduce biological risks while protecting healthcare workers, communities, and the environment.

To ensure these new competencies translate into long-term operational improvements, PROALAB is also investing in sustainable biomedical waste treatment systems. In partnership with the European Union-funded P91 project implemented by GIZ, the programme is supporting regional training on incinerator specifications, operation, and maintenance, creating a pool of French-speaking technical experts who can support laboratories across West Africa. This collaboration contributes to implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Biomedical Waste Management Strategic Plan while promoting sustainable operation and maintenance of biomedical waste treatment facilities.

Capacity building alone, however, is not enough. Effective biosafety and biosecurity require laboratories that are equipped with appropriate infrastructure and modern technology. Through PROALAB, substantial investments have therefore been made in laboratory strengthening across the region. Procurement valued at more than €20 million has supplied laboratories with essential diagnostic equipment, reagents and consumables, while complementary investments include laboratory renovations, computerized laboratory systems, solar energy installations, and biomedical waste treatment equipment such as incinerators. Together, these investments ensure that trained laboratory personnel have the facilities and equipment needed to safely detect, diagnose, and respond to epidemic-prone diseases while maintaining high biosafety and biosecurity standards.

To ensure these investments translate into internationally recognized quality standards, PROALAB also supports laboratories on their journey towards accreditation through regional Quality Management Systems (QMS), structured mentorship, laboratory assessments, and accreditation support. To date, nine laboratories within the PROALAB network have achieved accreditation to ISO 15189 or ISO/IEC 17025, while additional laboratories are progressing through assessment and application processes. These achievements strengthen confidence in laboratory results, improve diagnostic reliability, and reinforce regional preparedness by ensuring laboratories consistently operate according to internationally recognized standards.

Beyond biosafety, PROALAB integrates these activities within a broader laboratory systems strengthening programme that includes Quality Management Systems (QMS), equipment maintenance and metrology, Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), integrated biological sample transport (SITEB), antimicrobial resistance and arboviruses surveillance, and genomic surveillance. By strengthening these interconnected systems simultaneously, the programme supports reliable diagnostics, improved disease surveillance, and stronger regional preparedness for public health emergencies.

This integrated approach closely aligns with the objectives of the Global Partnership Signature Initiative to Mitigate Biological Threats in Africa (SIMBA). Sustainable biological threat reduction depends not only on developing skilled professionals but also on ensuring laboratories operate safely, securely, and effectively within coordinated regional networks. Through investments in infrastructure, workforce development, quality systems, regional partnerships, and institutional sustainability, PROALAB is helping build resilient laboratory systems capable of preventing, detecting, and responding to biological threats across West Africa.

As PROALAB prepares for its next phase of expansion, the partnership between WAHO, KfW, IFBA, ASLM, IPD, Global Fund, Fondation Mérieux, GIZ, AfrCDC, WHO and other key technical partners in the region demonstrates the value of coordinated regional investment in health security. By combining modern laboratory infrastructure with internationally certified professionals, accredited laboratories, and sustainable regional networks such as WABNet, PROALAB is creating lasting capacity that will continue to strengthen biosafety, biosecurity, and epidemic preparedness for years to come.

The Bundibugyo outbreak is a reminder that investments in preparedness made before epidemics occur are what save lives

As of 1 July, a cumulative of 1460 confirmed cases, including 452 deaths, have been reported by WHO for the Ebola virus disease caused by a new variant known as Bundibugyo (Bundibugyo virus disease – BVD), and on 2nd of July, a further 20 cases were confirmed in Uganda with two deaths. Cross-border movement, population displacement and significant migration flows in the affected region of the DRC – which is also the scene of multiple conflicts – are influencing the transmission of the disease. This dramatic situation requires an urgent and rapid response to save lives and protect people on the move, whilst mitigating regional health risks, as well as preparedness on the part of all countries across the African continent and beyond. As evidence of this, two confirmed cases have been reported in Germany and France, further reinforcing the evidence of the risk of global spread of this virus.

This is also why, right from the start of the Congolese outbreak, the WHO had classified it as a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ – that is, a serious health situation threatening several countries and requiring coordinated international action.

To organise a rapid and effective response to emerging pathogens posing a high risk of an epidemic, several factors are crucial, and one in particular: communicating risks to the public. Indeed, just like the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, the current BVD outbreak was not recognised early enough to be immediately contained by the Congolese health authorities, even though remarkable work was carried out as soon as the first cases were confirmed. To this end, keeping the public informed is crucial, as is strengthening community health more generally.

The world tends to invest in preparedness only when a crisis begins. West Africa has been investing in preparedness for years, and those investments now constitute a first line of defence for global health security.

When a new Ebola outbreak emerges, the world's attention naturally turns to the number of cases and the search for treatments. Yet the most important question is often asked too late: were we prepared before the first patient appeared?

With regard to surveillance, the regional health authorities in West Africa – the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) – with the support of WHO-Afro, the African Centre for Disease Control and other technical and financial partners, are working together to strengthen surveillance networks and rapid response teams so that they can respond very quickly in the event of an outbreak. However, in this part of the world where numerous epidemics co-exist – such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV, as well as dengue, Lassa fever and other haemorrhagic fever viruses – it is essential to be able to diagnose pathogens as quickly as possible to administer treatments and vaccinations, where available.

For several years now, the IPD has been operating a sentinel syndromic surveillance system (known as 4S) which enables the rapid detection of disease outbreaks and the implementation of a swift response in Senegal. And for the past three years, this system has been rolled out across the West African region with the support of the Global Fund through the West African Regional Initiative for Laboratories (WARIL). However, this network can only function properly with the support of efficient laboratories capable of carrying out diagnostic tests as quickly as possible, as well as genomic sequencing to detect new variants, mutations conferring resistance to treatment or evading vaccination, or even new pathogens.

Since 2018, WAHO, with funding from the German Development Bank (KfW) through a programme known as the ‘West African Laboratory Programme – PROALAB’, has been strengthening the Regional Reference Laboratories Network (RRLN) by providing state-of-the-art equipment alongside appropriate training to ensure reliable, rapid and effective diagnosis. This RRLN now comprises 33 laboratories across all West African countries, operating under a ‘One Health’ approach that includes laboratories specialising in human health as well as animal health, environmental health and toxicology.  PROALAB supports the WAHO Regional Centre for Disease Surveillance and Control (RCSDC), which centralises surveillance data from the West African region to improve diagnosis and enable a rapid response during disease outbreaks.

Training programmes designed to strengthen quality management systems – leading to laboratory accreditation – as well as biosafety and biosecurity measures, help to ensure not only that healthcare workers operate under international safety standards, but also that the pathogens being handled are not misused for malicious purposes, particularly as biological weapons. Many institutions are taking action to build capacity in these areas, notably through certain projects run by the EU’s centres of excellence for the mitigation of nuclear, radioactive, biological and chemical risks, as well as the SIMBA programme (Signature Initiative for Mitigation of Biological Threats in Africa).

It is against this backdrop – and just as during the COVID-19 pandemic – that WAHO, RCSDC and IPD are organising training courses to prepare for a possible spread of the BVD epidemic in this part of the continent. It should be noted that, in 2020, these training sessions took place even before a single case of COVID-19 had been confirmed in West Africa. Although it is hoped that they will not be needed for BVD, they are beneficial for building the skills required to manage any outbreak, both in terms of strengthening surveillance and laboratory capacity.

Recent events relating to the new Ebola variant remind us that diseases know no borders and that it is essential for us to work together to strengthen global surveillance and diagnostic networks.

The current Ebola outbreak reminds us that preparedness cannot begin once an epidemic is declared. It depends on years of investment in surveillance systems, laboratory networks, workforce development and regional cooperation. Programmes such as 4S and PROALAB are therefore not only investments in African health systems; they are investments in global health security.