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. 2021 Apr 27:38:402.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2021.38.402.28886. eCollection 2021.

Laboratory capacity assessments in 25 African countries at high risk of yellow fever, August-December 2018

Barbara Wilmot Johnson  1 , Maurice Demanou  2   3 , Gamou Fall  4 , Jean-Luc Betoulle  5 , Celestina Obiekea  6 , Alison Jane Basile  7 , Cristina Domingo  8 , Christin Goodman  7 , Eric Mossel  7 , Chantal Reusken  9 , Erin Staples  7 , Joana Filipa Machado de Morais  10 , Zoraima Neto  10 , Paula Paixão  10 , Yves Eric Denon  11 , Mariette Glitho  11 , José Mahinou  11 , Therese Kagone  1   2 , Emmanuel Nakoune  12 , Kadidja Gamougam  13 , Elisabeth Pukuta Simbu  14 , Steve Ahuka  14 , Jean-Vivien Mombouli  15 , Cynthia Goma-Nkoua  15 , Edgard Valery Adjogoua  16 , Adamu Tayachew  17 , Berhane Beyene  18 , Bakary Sanneh  19 , Modou Lamin Jarju  19 , Alphonse Mendy  19 , Dodzi Kofi Amelor  20 , Lawrence Ofosu-Appiah  20 , David Opare  20 , Lorreta Antwi  20 , Rexford Adade  20 , N'Faly Magassouba  21 , Sabado Fernandes Gomes  22 , Samson Limbaso  23 , Joel Lutomiah  23 , Burgess Gbelee Jr  24 , John Dogba  24 , Issa Cisse  25 , Zakou Idde  26 , Chikwe Ihekweazu  6 , Nwando Mba  6 , Ousmane Faye  4 , Oumar Faye  4 , Amadou Alpha Sall  4 , Zikan Koroma  27 , Manuela Alphonse Juma  28 , James Ayei Maror  28 , Mawahib Eldigail  29 , Adel Hussein Elduma  29 , Rehab Elageb  29 , Kossi Badziklou  30 , Koba Adjaho Komla  30 , John Kayiwa  31 , Julius Julian Lutwama  31 , Lee Hampton  32 , Mick Norman Mulders  33
Affiliations

Laboratory capacity assessments in 25 African countries at high risk of yellow fever, August-December 2018

Barbara Wilmot Johnson et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Introduction: accurate and timely laboratory diagnosis of yellow fever (YF) is critical to the Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) strategy. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance recognized the need to support and build capacity in the national and regional laboratories in the Global YF Laboratory Network (GYFLN) as part of this strategy.

Methods: to better understand current capacity, gaps and needs of the GYFLN laboratories in Africa, assessments were carried out in national and regional reference laboratories in the 25 African countries at high risk for YF outbreaks that were eligible for new financial support from Gavi.

Results: the assessments found that the GYFLN in Africa has high capacity but 21% of specimens were not tested due to lack of testing kits or reagents and approximately 50% of presumptive YF cases were not confirmed at the regional reference laboratory due to problems with shipping.

Conclusion: the laboratory assessments helped to document the baseline capacities of these laboratories prior to Gavi funding to support strengthening YF laboratories.

Keywords: Yellow fever; diagnostics; laboratory; testing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
yellow fever risk classification in Africa by country in 2016; twenty-seven countries were identified as high risk for YF epidemics based on timing and intensity of YF virus circulation in the country, estimates of transmission potential, and assessment of urban outbreak risk; laboratory assessments were conducted in 25 YF NLs in high-risk countries eligible for Gavi support at the time of the assessments (excluded Equatorial Guinea and Gabon) and the RRL at IPD
Figure 2
Figure 2
yellow fever serologic testing and referral algorithm in the WHO African Region with 2017 testing activities
Figure 3
Figure 3
mean time from receipt of specimens in 14 NLs to confirmation at the RRL was 107 days during 2017; according to WHO performance indicators, specimens with YF IgM-positive or -EQ results were to be shipped to the RRL for confirmatory testing within 7 days of completion of testing; in 2017 the mean time from completion of testing at the NL to receipt of specimens by the courier was 82 days; note: Figure reflects data from Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, and Togo
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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