17 May 2017 – WHO conducted a training workshop on laboratory diagnostics of Zika virus for health laboratory professionals from countries of WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region at the Central Public Health Laboratory of Jordan in Amman, Jordan.

The 4-day training is part of WHO’s plan to enhance preparedness and readiness measure for prevention, detection and response to Zika virus infection in the Region. The workshop ran from 8 to 11 May 2017 and was attended by 23 laboratory specialists from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia and United Arab Emirates.

Participants received hands-on training in sample collection and molecular diagnosis, as well as serological testing for diagnosis of Zika virus infection and other epidemic arboviruses, such as the ones that cause dengue and chikungunya in the Region. 

To further strengthen laboratory capacities, WHO has agreed that all countries in the Region will receive molecular diagnostic test kits for Zika virus and other arboviruses, such as dengue and chikungunya, as part of ensuring capacity to test and accurately diagnose Zika virus infection, dengue and chikungunya – 3 of the most prevalent epidemic arboviruses in the Region.

The training was facilitated by a group of the laboratory scientists from the United States Naval Medical Research Unit-3 (US-NAMRU-3) and hosted by the Infectious Hazards Management programme of the Department of Health Emergencies.