Implementation and expansion of laboratory capacity for molecular diagnostics in response to COVID-19 and preparedness for other emerging infectious diseases in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Wiley Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101304007 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1750-2659 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 17502640 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Influenza Other Respir Viruses Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: Oxford, UK : Wiley, c2007-
    • Subject Terms:
      Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean*/diagnosis ; Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean*/epidemiology ; Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo*/genetics ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging*/epidemiology ; COVID-19*/diagnosis ; COVID-19*/epidemiology ; Measles*/diagnosis ; Measles*/epidemiology ; Measles*/prevention & control ; Dengue*/epidemiology; Humans ; Afghanistan/epidemiology ; COVID-19 Testing ; Pathology, Molecular ; Pandemics
    • Abstract:
      Background: Afghanistan experienced various outbreaks before and during the Covid-19 pandemic, including dengue, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), measles, and acute watery diarrhea (AWD). Diagnostic and surveillance support was limited, with only the Central Public Health Laboratory equipped to handle outbreak responses. This article highlights initiatives taken to improve diagnostic capabilities for COVID-19 and other outbreaks of public health concern encountered during the pandemic.
      Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) Afghanistan Country Office collaborated with the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO), Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL), and National Influenza Center (NIC) to enhance COVID-19 diagnostic capacity at national and subnational facilities. To alleviate pressure on CPHL, a state-of-the-art laboratory was established at the National Infectious Disease Hospital (NIDH) in Kabul in 2021-2022, while WHO EMRO facilitated the regionalization of testing to subnational facilities for dengue, CCHF, and AWD in 2022-2023.
      Results: COVID-19 testing capacity expanded nationwide to 34 Biosafety Level II labs, improving diagnosis time. Daily testing rose from 1000 in 2020 to 9200 in 2023, with 848,799 cumulative tests. NIDH identified 229 CCHF cases and 45 cases nationally. Dengue and CCHF testing, decentralized to Nangarhar and Kandahar labs, identified 338 dengue and 18 CCHF cases. AWD testing shifted to NIDH and five subnational facilities (Kandahar, Paktia, Balkh, Herat, and Nangarhar labs), while measles testing also decentralized to nine subnational facilities.
      Conclusion: Afghanistan implemented a remarkable, multisectoral response to priority pathogens. The nation now possesses diagnostic expertise at national and subnational levels, supported by genomic surveillance. Future efforts should concentrate on expanding and sustaining this capacity to enhance public health responses.
      Competing Interests: All authors declare no conflict of interest.
      (© 2023 World Health Organization; licensed by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
    • Grant Information:
      001 International WHO_ World Health Organization
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: Covid‐19 pandemic; decentralized diagnostics; emerging diseases; genomic surveillance; outbreaks
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20231115 Date Completed: 20231211 Latest Revision: 20231214
    • Publication Date:
      20231215
    • Accession Number:
      PMC10640962
    • Accession Number:
      10.1111/irv.13210
    • Accession Number:
      37964989