Abstract
Optimal biosafety and biosecurity are major requirements of global health security. This study assessed the biorisk management in the reference veterinary laboratory of Parakou (Benin). The study was cross-sectional, descriptive, and evaluative. The non-probability sampling method with the reasoned choice was used. The Food and Agriculture Organization laboratory mapping tool-safety was used to collect information from the laboratory team. Group discussion, working environment observation, and document exploitation were the data collection techniques. The biorisk management was rated good if the average indicator of the laboratory reached at least 80%. Otherwise, the biorisk management was rated insufficient. The overall laboratory biosafety and biosecurity score was insufficient (42.4%). Per area, the scores were 26.7% for engineering, 33.3% for administration, 53.8% for personal protective equipment, and 62.3% for the operational. There was no area or category score that reached 80%. Containment, waste disposal, and personal protective equipment disposal were the best performing categories with a score above 60%. The laboratory has no biosafety and accident prevention program. Its premises require renovation. The standard operating procedures for biosafety are not yet finalized, and the training mechanism is not optimal. Therefore, strong advocacy and implementation of a biorisk management improvement plan appear as urgent corrective actions which are required to help the reference veterinary laboratory of Parakou in its task to protect the livestock and, ultimately, the people of Benin from dangerous diseases and emerging pathogens.
Highlights
Laboratories play a crucial role in the rapid detection of infectious pathogens, including endemic, emerging, and re-emerging pathogens and other global health security (GHS) threats
In line with these added values, the 8th core capacity of the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 requires Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) to establish mechanisms allowing laboratories to identify and characterize reliably and timely infectious agents and other hazards that may lead to public health emergencies of national or international concern [2,3]
This requirement became more important since the largest Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014 and the adoption of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) [4]
Summary
Laboratories play a crucial role in the rapid detection of infectious pathogens, including endemic, emerging, and re-emerging pathogens and other global health security (GHS) threats. In line with these added values, the 8th core capacity of the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 requires Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) to establish mechanisms allowing laboratories to identify and characterize reliably and timely infectious agents and other hazards that may lead to public health emergencies of national or international concern [2,3] This requirement became more important since the largest Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014 and the adoption of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) [4]. As part of the ongoing assessment of the national laboratory system capacities for the detection of GHS infectious threats in Benin, the current study is undertaken with an aim to assess the biorisk management in LADISERO
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