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Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation
Project

PROJECT 075 (IfS): Preventing biological risks increased by environmental and climate change in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Sahel regions-One Health (MEDILABSECURE)

Context

The Mediterranean region, the Sahel and the Black Sea region, which include important routes of human migrations, are close neighbours of the European Union and are particularly exposed to health risks (epidemic, pandemic) and disasters (man-made or natural). These can have a serious impact on populations, resources and infrastructures and could undermine the regions’ efforts for sustainable development and increase the instability of the area. The geopolitical context of this region as well as the common new challenges such as migrants, climate changes and (re)-emerging diseases increase the burden of public health services including national laboratories.

In order to enhance health security in the region, capacity building for prevention and control of natural or man-made health threats, posed by communicable diseases is necessary.

Overall objective

To provide capacity building and networking activities in order to strengthen the network of laboratories and public health institutions.

Specific objectives

  1. To strengthen and harmonize preparedness and response capacities on health threats related to (arbo)zoonotic viruses and their vectors in the target regions;
  2. Enhance awareness of the added value of integrated surveillance, risk assessment and early warning to prevent and control epidemics and epizootics.

Activities

  1. Synergize ongoing actions by promoting One Health strategies;
  2. Providing laboratory and field training to improve the detection of emerging zoonotic pathogens and the identification of involved vectors;
  3. Evaluate, validate, transfer and implement the best laboratory techniques available for detection and diagnosis of emerging vector-borne zoonotic pathogens;
  4. Improve biosafety practices;
  5. Implement joint activities to accelerate efforts for early detection of health threats and the implementation of an effective One Health approach;
  6. Improve information, communication, sharing of knowledge and feedback experiences, and awareness, including working on the provision of early warning tools.

Achievements

  • 3 Situation Analysis study visits to Serbia, Tunisia and Georgia focused on integrated surveillance and risk assessment of arbovirosis in Mediterranean and Black Sea Regions;
  • 2 External Quality Assessments (EQA) were conducted to assess the ability of the trained laboratories of the network to detect:
    • EQA 1: West Nile virus antibodies and genetic material in infected animals’ samples by ELISA and by PCR techniques;
    • EQA 2: Rift Valley fever virus antibodies and genetic material in infected animals’ samples by ELISA and by PCR techniques.
  • 2 EQA studies were organised with the German company INSTAND in 2016.
CBRN areas
Bio-safety/bio-securityCrisis managementPublic health impact mitigationSafeguarding information diffusionSafety and security
CBRN categories
Biological
CoE Region
AAF - African Atlantic FaçadeMIE - Middle EastNAS - North Africa and SahelSEEE - South East and Eastern Europe
25 MARCH 2024
Project 075 Factsheet
English
(637.64 KB - PDF)
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Stakeholders

Coordinators

European Commission

United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)

Website
http://www.unicri.it

Participants

French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD)

Website
https://en.ird.fr/

Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA) (INIA)

Website
https://www.inia.es/

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delľAbruzzo e del Molise "Giuseppe Caporale" (IZSAM)

Website
https://www.izs.it/IZS/

This project is part of a pre-existing EU activity in the regions and has not resulted from the submission of a CoE project proposal. Due to the different origin of the project, not all countries involved are CoE partner countries.

** This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

*** This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue.