Original Research

The East African Community mobile laboratory network prepares for monkeypox outbreaks

Forian Gehre, Hakim Idris Lagu, Emmanuel Achol, Neema Omari, Grace Ochido, Kerstin Shand, Andrea Molina Alvarado, Gerd Ruge, Eric Kezakarayagwa, Francine Kabatesi, Théogene Ihorimbere, Anatole Nkeshimana, Abdi Roba, Millicent Nyakio Ndia, Susan Mahuro Githii, John Ndemi Kiiru, Donald Duku Samson, Gwokpan Awin Nykwec, Isaac Gatkuoth Chot Moun, Lul Lojok Deng, Maria Ezekiely Kelly, Peter Bernard Mtesigwa Mkama, Felician L. Msigwa, Alex Magesa, Godfrey Pimundu, Tonny Muyigi, Susan Ndidde Nabadda, Eric Nzeyimana, Juergen May, Muna Affara
Journal of Public Health in Africa | Vol 14, No 6 | a144 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2023.2309 | © 2024 Forian Gehre, Hakim Idris Lagu, Emmanuel Achol, Neema Omari, Grace Ochido, Kerstin Shand, Andrea Molina Alvarado, Gerd Ruge, Eric Kezakarayagwa, Francine Kabatesi, Théogene Ihorimbere, Anatole Nkeshimana, Abdi Roba, Millicent Nyakio Ndia, Susan Mahuro Githii, John Ndemi Kiiru, Donald Duku Samson, Gwokpan Awin Nykwec, Isaac Gatkuoth Chot Moun, Lul Lojok Deng, Maria Ezekiely Kelly, Peter Bernard Mtesigwa Mkama, Felician L. Msigwa, Alex Magesa, Godfrey Pimundu, Tonny Muyigi, Susan Ndidde Nabadda, Eric Nzeyimana, Juergen May, Muna Affara | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 03 April 2024 | Published: 21 June 2023

About the author(s)

Forian Gehre, Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany; East African Community (EAC), Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of
Hakim Idris Lagu, East African Community (EAC), Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of
Emmanuel Achol, East African Community (EAC), Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of
Neema Omari, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany; East African Community (EAC), Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of
Grace Ochido, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany; East African Community (EAC), Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of
Kerstin Shand, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
Andrea Molina Alvarado, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
Gerd Ruge, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
Eric Kezakarayagwa, National Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Fight Against AIDS, Bujumbura, Burundi
Francine Kabatesi, National Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Fight Against AIDS, Bujumbura, Burundi
Théogene Ihorimbere, National Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Fight Against AIDS, Bujumbura, Burundi
Anatole Nkeshimana, National Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Fight Against AIDS, Bujumbura, Burundi
Abdi Roba, National Public Health Laboratories, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
Millicent Nyakio Ndia, National Public Health Laboratories, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
Susan Mahuro Githii, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
John Ndemi Kiiru, National Public Health Laboratories, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
Donald Duku Samson, Public Health Laboratory and National Blood Transfusion Centre, Ministry of Health, Juba, Sudan
Gwokpan Awin Nykwec, Public Health Laboratory and National Blood Transfusion Centre, Ministry of Health, Juba, Sudan
Isaac Gatkuoth Chot Moun, Public Health Laboratory and National Blood Transfusion Centre, Ministry of Health, Juba, Sudan
Lul Lojok Deng, Public Health Laboratory and National Blood Transfusion Centre, Ministry of Health, Juba, Sudan
Maria Ezekiely Kelly, Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dodoma; National Health Laboratory, Quality Assurance and Training Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of
Peter Bernard Mtesigwa Mkama, Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dodoma; National Health Laboratory, Quality Assurance and Training Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of
Felician L. Msigwa, Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dodoma, Tanzania, United Republic of
Alex Magesa, Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dodoma, Tanzania, United Republic of
Godfrey Pimundu, National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services (NHLDS), Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
Tonny Muyigi, National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services (NHLDS), Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
Susan Ndidde Nabadda, National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services (NHLDS), Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
Eric Nzeyimana, East African Community (EAC), Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of
Juergen May, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg; Tropical Medicine II, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
Muna Affara, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany; East African Community (EAC), Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of

Abstract

In response to the largest recorded monkeypox virus outbreak outside of endemic Central and Western Africa, the East African Community (EAC), in cooperation with the Bernhard-Nocht- Institute for Tropical Medicine, coordinated an emergency monkeypox diagnostic training for the East African Region. As of June 2022, the Democratic Republic of Congo reported a steady increase of suspected monkeypox cases, increasing the risk of spill-over into the remaining six EAC Partner States. Within the existing EAC Mobile Laboratories project, laboratory experts of the National Public Health Laboratories of the remaining six EAC Partner States (Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan) participated in the workshop and were trained in the reception of suspect samples, DNA extraction and diagnosis using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The EAC region is now equipped with the tools to prepare and rapidly respond to any emerging monkeypox outbreak.


Keywords

monkeypox; EAC mobile laboratory; capacity building; East African community; outbreak response

Metrics

Total abstract views: 1636
Total article views: 1146

 

Crossref Citations

1. Assessment of the pathogen genomics landscape highlights disparities and challenges for effective AMR Surveillance and outbreak response in the East African community
Julien A. Nguinkal, Yedomon A. B. Zoclanclounon, Andrea Molina, Abdi Roba, Ndia M. Nyakio, Peter N. Lokamar, Néhémie Nzoyikorera, Théogène Ihorimbere, Joseph Nyandwi, Mamdouh A. Aguer, James A. Maror, Michael Lasuba Lokore, Monica Fredrick Francis, Lawrence A. Mapunda, Medard Beyanga, Tonny Muyigi, Godfrey Pimundu, Susan N. Nabadda, Emmanuel Kabalisa, Jeanne d’Arc Umuringa, Isabelle Mukaga Tare, Hakim I. Lagu, Emmanuel Achol, Jürgen May, Muna Affara, Florian Gehre
BMC Public Health  vol: 24  issue: 1  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-18990-0

2. Rapid regional mobile laboratory response and genomic monkeypox virus (MPXV) surveillance in seven East African Community partner states, August 2024: preparedness activities for the ongoing outbreak
Florian Gehre, Eric Nzeyimana, Hakim Idris Lagu, Emmanuel Achol, Julien A Nguinkal, Eric Kezakarayagwa, Théogene Ihorimbere, Néhémie Nzoyikorera, Francine Kabatesi, Marie-Noelle Uwineza, Abdi Roba, Millicent Nyakio Ndia, John Ndemi Kiiru, Gwokpan Awin Nykwec, Isaac Gatkuoth Chot Moun, Mamdouh A Aguer, James A Maror, Gregory Wani Dumo, Michael Losuba, Lul Lojok Deng, Neema Omari, Grace Ochido, Aryse Martins Melo, Peter Bernard Mtesigwa Mkama, Edna Mgimba, Monica Fredrick Francis, Lawrence A Mapunda, Alex Magesa, Nyambura Moremi, Godfrey Pimundu, Tonny Muyigi, Susan Ndidde Nabadda, Emmanuel Kabalisa, Isabelle Mukagatare, Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka, Erick Ntambwe Kamangu, Jürgen May, Muna Affara
Eurosurveillance  vol: 29  issue: 35  year: 2024  
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.35.2400541

3. The role, challenges, and solutions of laboratories in disaster medicine: a systematic review
Kien Trung Tran, Ky Dinh Nguyen, Tho Ngoc Nguyen, Lam The Pham, Linh Mai Nguyen, Phong Han Nguyen, Nam Hoang Tran, Chung Thi Kim Le
Frontiers in Public Health  vol: 13  year: 2026  
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1726280

4. Real-Time Use of Mpox Genomic Surveillance, King County, Washington, USA, 2022–2024
Kathryn M. Lau, Michaela Banks, Kaila Bryant, Joanie D. Lambert, Laura Marcela Torres, Stephanie M. Lunn, Cory Yun, Pavitra Roychoudhury, B. Ethan Nunley, Jaydee Sereewit, Alexander L. Greninger, Allison Black, Vance Kawakami, Sargis Pogosjans, Elysia Gonzales, Eric J. Chow
Emerging Infectious Diseases  vol: 31  issue: 13  year: 2025  
doi: 10.3201/eid3113.241242

5. Mpox Outbreak in the East Africa Region: Current Status, Containment Measures, Challenges, and Future Direction
Reuben Sindayiheba, Noel Gahamanyi, Jerome Ndayisenga, Edouard Ntagwabira, Emmanuel Nsengiyumva, Emmanuel Kabalisa, Gashegu Misbah, Isabelle Mukagatare, Leon Mutesa, Claude Mambo Muvunyi
Public Health Challenges  vol: 5  issue: 1  year: 2026  
doi: 10.1002/puh2.70194