Infectious Hazard Management, Department of Health Emergency World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office Cairo Egypt.
Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2023 Oct 18;17(10):e13205. doi: 10.1111/irv.13205. eCollection 2023 Oct.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of pathogen sequencing in making informed public health decisions. Initially, the Eastern Mediterranean Region faced limitations in sequencing capacity. However, with robust WHO and stakeholder support, the situation significantly improved. By 2022, COVID-19 sequencing was underway in 22 out of 23 regional countries, with varying throughput and capacity. Notably, three genomic hubs were established in Oman, UAE, and Morocco, playing a key role in providing expanded genomics training and support across the region. While primarily for COVID-19 surveillance, this sequencing capacity offers an opportunity to integrate genomic surveillance into existing networks. This integration can enable early detection and response to high-threat pathogens with pandemic potential. To advance this, WHO/EMRO collaborated with stakeholders to formulate the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Genomic Surveillance Strategy for Emerging Pathogens of Pandemic Concern. Consultative meetings with regional and international genomic surveillance experts identified strategy focal points, key partners, priority pathogens, and implementation steps. As the strategy awaits member states' ratification in Q4 2023, this manuscript outlines pivotal facets defined by member states and the strategic document's key deliverables and opportunities. These efforts aim to yield a substantial positive impact within the region.
新冠疫情凸显了病原体测序在做出明智公共卫生决策方面的关键作用。最初，东地中海区域在测序能力方面面临限制。然而，在世卫组织和利益攸关方的大力支持下，情况得到了显著改善。到 2022 年，23 个区域国家中有 22 个国家开展了新冠病毒测序工作，其测序通量和能力各有不同。值得注意的是，阿曼、阿拉伯联合酋长国和摩洛哥设立了三个基因组中心，在为整个区域提供扩展的基因组学培训和支持方面发挥了关键作用。虽然主要是用于新冠病毒监测，但这种测序能力为将基因组监测纳入现有网络提供了机会。这一整合可以实现对具有大流行潜力的高威胁病原体的早期检测和应对。为此，世卫组织东地中海区域办事处在利益攸关方的协作下，制定了《关于具有大流行潜力的新发传染病的东地中海区域基因监测战略》。与区域和国际基因组监测专家举行的协商会议确定了战略重点、主要合作伙伴、优先病原体和实施步骤。由于该战略有待成员国在 2023 年第四季度批准，本文概述了成员国确定的关键方面以及战略文件的主要成果和机遇。这些努力旨在为该区域带来重大积极影响。
