WHO CC RABIES MISSIONS :
- To participate in the preparation, trial and the periodic control of international standards
The WHO CC Rabies is developing standards and methods, to be used for rabies diagnosis in local laboratories in rabies-enzootic countries. This year protocols and reagents have been sent to Senegal.
- To prepare and distribute viral strains to other laboratories
This activity is done in collaboration with the Centre for Biological Ressources that has been established in Institut Pasteur (http://crbip.pasteur.fr). This centre, which is named CRBIP, distributes selected lyssavirus strains under the requirements of quality control and legislation for the shipment of infected biological products.
- To identify rabies isolates and to test sera and vaccines submitted for trial by other laboratories
The WHO CC supported some European countries which are lacking facilities and expertise for rabies diagnosis in humans. This was the case in 2014 for the confirmation of the diagnosis of rabies in a patient from Milan, Italy, after returning from a stay in Kenya and on the request of the italian hospital.
The WHO CC also continued to improve the genetic characterisation of lyssavirus isolates, in particular in two regions of the world: Africa and Asia. These studies will be submitted soon.
- To participate in the training of scientists from other countries in diagnostic techniques and rabies control methods
The WHO CC has contributed to the building of capacities in rabies diagnosis methods and control, in particular in Asia and in Africa.
- To participate in coordination with WHO to the implementation of programs of rabies surveillance, prevention and control in developing countries
The WHO CC Rabies continued to be involved in the consultation on and coordination of development projects with national partners and institutions (OIE, FAO). It organized or collaborated to meetings with Health directorate and national centres for disease control of different countries, regional and national institutions and organizations to reinforce and organise national control programs against rabies.
- To collaborate in research, bearing in mind suggestions of expert committees, scientific groups and other consultative agencies of the WHO, Preparedness, Prediction and Prevention of Emerging Zoonotic Viruses with Pandemic Potential using Multidisciplinary Approaches (PREDEMICS)
The WHO CC on Rabies, Paris, is collaborating to the large-scale integrating project FP7 European research program named “Preparedness, Prediction and Prevention of Emerging Zoonotic Viruses with Pandemic Potential using Multidisciplinary Approaches”, Acronym: PREDEMICS.
