Development of list of biological agents of security concern to enhance biosecurity and one health collaborations: Ethiopia's experience

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Background: Central to the Global Health Security Agenda and One Health of nations is creation by a country of a list of agents of concern.It is an official recognition by a nation that there are specific infectious agents and toxins that present severe hazards and a threat to the economy of the country.Creating list raises awareness of the scientific community, governmentand public that measures must be implemented. Cognizant to this, Ethiopia developed its own list namely Ethiopia's Hazardous Pathogens and Toxins List (ESHPT) with the objectives to protect the public from the agents on the list such as ability to detectthe agents, prepare for rapid response, control the possession, use and transport of the agents,implement prevention and therapeutic capability, control entry of the agents into the country and support research. Methods and materials: The Ethiopian Public Health Institute's (EPHI) with the technical assistance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Select Agent and Toxins (DSAT) established technical working group (TWG) in April 2016 for the purpose of developing an ESHPT list for Ethiopia. The technical working group was made up of individuals from the EPHI, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and its technical arms and Addis Ababa University Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology. Results: After successive TWG meetings total of 68 list of pathogens and toxins identified to be included in Ethiopia's Hazardous Pathogens and Toxins List. The list is updated every 2 years and included 22 Zoonotic bacterial agents, 34 Viruses, 12 Toxins. The list was submitted to both Ministries of Health and Agriculture and got approval. The TWG enhanced the one health collaborations. Development of the list led to preparation of biosafety and biosecurity requirements proclamation which is under submission to parliament for the regulation of entities handling the agents. More than 30 potential entities are identified for enrollment into the regulation system. Conclusion: Emergence of Global Health Security Agenda and One Health initiative helped Ethiopia helped to develop country specific list pathogens and toxins which pose biosecurity concern to the country. Formation of the TWG enhanced collaborations between Health, Animal and environment sectors.