Sierra Leone bolters mpox response: World Health Organization (WHO) leads groundbreaking genomic surveillance and bioinformatics training
Despite reporting over 4,400 confirmed cases of mpox as of 27th June 2025, Sierra Leone has performed genomic characterization on only approximately 2.5% of these cases (108 sequences), representing a significant limitation in understanding viral evolution and informing targeted public health interventions. Currently, these genomic data are deposited in international repositories such as Pathoplexus, GISAID, and NCBI Virus; however, the disparity between outbreak detection and genomic data generation hampers real-time surveillance efforts.
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) and the Sierra Leone National Public Health Agency (SLNPHA) of Sierra Leone have prioritized strengthening genomic surveillance to enable rapid outbreak detection, track viral transmission, and inform policy decisions. Allan Campbell, Laboratory Lead at CPHRL, emphasized the significance of this training, stating, 'This marks a pivotal moment in Sierra Leone's national response to mpox.
The initiative addresses the substantial bioinformatics capacity gap and establishes a foundation for sustainable genomic surveillance that can directly inform public health actions.' The workshop aligns with the objectives outlined in the WHO African Region (AFRO) Joint Continental mpox Response Plan 2.0, focusing on intensification, integration, and establishing a sustainable legacy in genomic epidemiology.
The week-long workshop employed a multidisciplinary, hands-on approach combining didactic instruction, practical exercises, and group data analysis. The curriculum included:
Day 1: Introduction to genomic surveillance principles, sequencing technologies, and foundational bioinformatics tools such as Linux and Conda environments.
Day 2: Emphasis on sequencing data quality control (FastQC, MultiQC), read trimming (Fastp, Hostile), and genome assembly techniques utilizing reference-based (BWA, Cutadapt) and de novo (SPAdes) approaches.
Day 3: Variant detection and analysis (SAMtools, FreeBayes, Snippy), consensus sequence generation (Bcftools), and genome annotation (SnpEff, VEP).
Day 4: Phylogenetic analysis, clade classification (Nextclade, Nextstrain), and visualization using platforms such as GISAID, Pathoplexus, NCBI Virus, Microreact, iTOL, and Galaxy.
Day 5: Integration of all components through a case study simulating mpox outbreak response, culminating in data interpretation and strategic planning.
Walter Oguta, WHO AFRO EPI Analytics Specialist and the Lead Bioinformatics Trainer, underscored the practical value of the training, stating, 'Translating genomic data into actionable public health strategies is the ultimate goal. Our aim was to equip participants with both technical proficiency and confidence to utilize these tools effectively.'
Doris Harding, Laboratory Pillar Lead at the SLNPHA, highlighted the broader implications: 'Strengthening our capacity for genomic surveillance is no longer optional—it is essential. This initiative empowers our scientists to respond more effectively to mpox and other emerging pathogens.' Similarly, Jonathan Greene, WHO Sierra Leone Laboratory Lead, articulated the importance of workforce development, asserting, 'Building a skilled, locally capable workforce is central to WHO's strategy for resilient health systems. The use of genomics is transforming outbreak intelligence, enabling a shift from reactive to proactive responses.'
Dr. Ameh George, WHO Representative in Sierra Leone, emphasized the strategic importance of institutionalizing genomic surveillance: 'Genomics is redefining outbreak science. Sierra Leone must lead in generating and utilizing genomic data to inform policy and strengthen global health security. WHO remains committed to supporting this transformation.'
Participants and stakeholders concurred that this training initiative constitutes a long-term investment in Sierra Leone's epidemic preparedness, response and resilience. By decentralizing sequencing capabilities and integrating genomic data into national decision-making processes, the program aspires to support regional efforts for early detection and rapid response to outbreaks.
The workshop concluded with the issuance of certificates of completion and a networking session aimed at fostering collaboration and innovation in public health genomics. As Sierra Leone advances its surveillance infrastructure, the overarching goal remains to elevate genomic data from an underutilized resource to a central element of outbreak response and epidemic intelligence, thereby strengthening national and regional health security.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization - Sierra Leone.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Senegal joins growing list of countries that have eliminated trachoma
The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Senegal as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. Senegal becomes the ninth country in WHO's African Region to have achieved this feat. 'I commend Senegal for freeing its population from this disease', said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. 'This milestone is yet another sign of the remarkable progress being made against neglected tropical diseases globally, and offers hope to other countries still working to eliminate trachoma.' Trachoma has been known in Senegal since the early 1900s and was confirmed as a major cause of blindness through surveys in the 1980s and 1990s. Senegal joined the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma in 1998, conducted its first national survey in 2000, and completed full disease mapping by 2017 with support from the Global Trachoma Mapping Project and Tropical Data. Trachoma control was consistently integrated into national eye health programmed, first under the National Program for Blindness Prevention (PNLC) and later through the National Program for the Promotion of Eye Health (PNPSO) – maintaining its commitment to trachoma elimination. 'Today we celebrate our victory against trachoma, 21 years after the one against dracunculiasis' said Dr Ibrahima Sy, Senegal's Minister of Health and Social Action. 'This new milestone reminds us that our overarching goal remains a Senegal free from neglected tropical diseases. We are fully committed to this, and we are making good progress, notably against human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and onchocerciasis'. Senegal implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy to eliminate trachoma with the support of partners, reaching 2.8 million people who needed them across 24 districts. These activities included provision of surgery to treat the late blinding stage of the disease, conducting antibiotic mass drug administration of azithromycin donated by Pfizer through the International Trachoma Initiative, carrying out public awareness campaigns to promote facial cleanliness, and improvement in access to water supply and sanitation. Trachoma is the second neglected tropical disease to be eliminated in Senegal. In 2004, the country was certified free of dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease) transmission. Globally, Senegal joins 24 other countries that have been validated by WHO for having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. These are Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Gambia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Ghana, India, Iraq, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. These countries are part of a wider of group of 57 countries that have eliminated one or more neglected tropical diseases. WHO is supporting Senegal's health authorities to closely monitor communities in which trachoma was previously endemic to ensure there is no resurgence of the disease. 'Trachoma has cast a shadow over communities in Senegal for more than a century. This long-awaited validation is not only a milestone for public health but a powerful tribute to the tireless dedication of frontline health workers, communities, government leaders, and partners who never gave up,' said Dr Jean-Marie Vianny Yameogo, WHO Representative in Senegal. 'Today, we close a chapter that began over a hundred years ago, united with pride, gratitude and resolve. WHO remains committed to supporting Senegal as the country continues to lead in sustaining this hard-earned achievement.' Disease prevalence Trachoma remains a public health problem in 32 countries, with an estimated 103 million people living in areas requiring interventions against the disease. Trachoma is found mainly in the poorest and most rural areas of Africa, Central and South America, Asia, the Western Pacific and the Middle East. WHO's African Region is disproportionately affected by trachoma, with 93 million people living in at-risk areas in April 2024, representing 90% of the global trachoma burden. Significant progress has been made in the fight against trachoma over the past few years and the number of people requiring antibiotic treatment for trachoma in the African Region fell by 96 million from 189 million in 2014 to 93 million as of April 2024, representing a 51% reduction. There are currently 20 countries (Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) in WHO's African Region that are known to require intervention for trachoma elimination. A further 3 countries in the Region (Botswana, Guinea-Bissau and Namibia) claim to have achieved the prevalence targets for elimination.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Ethiopia moves toward smarter health and nutrition supply chain management
A national dissemination workshop held on May 27, 2025, in Addis Ababa brought together government officials, health experts, and development partners to review the findings of a comprehensive assessment of Ethiopia's electronic Logistics Management Information System (eLMIS), known as Dagu. The system is designed to enhance visibility and improve efficiency throughout the country's health supply chain. Opening the event, the World Health Organization (WHO) Ethiopia Dr Patrick Okumu Abok, Team Lead, Health Emergencies Programme, commended the collaborative efforts that led to the successful completion of the nationwide assessment, which covered 251 public health facilities. The study evaluated the functionality, maturity, utilization, and impact of the Dagu system on health and nutrition commodity availability, inventory management, and decision-making processes. The event and the nationwide assessment were funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), reaffirming the EU's longstanding commitment to supporting Ethiopia's health system strengthening and digital transformation. 'This event marks a significant milestone in our collective effort to build a more resilient, data-driven supply chain for Ethiopia,' said Dr Patrick. 'Dagu is helping health facilities deliver essential medicines, nutrition commodities and health supplies more reliably—and the data proves it.' According to the assessment findings, 63.7% of health facilities currently operate functional Dagu systems. These facilities demonstrated improved pharmaceutical availability—with an average availability rate of 88.3% for tracer medicines—highlighting Dagu's positive contribution to medicine access across the health system. Despite the progress, the assessment also highlighted several challenges, including infrastructure limitations, intermittent internet access, limited management engagement, and human resource constraints, particularly in areas such as training and staff retention. The study identified that facilities with trained pharmacy heads and reliable internet access were significantly more likely to operate functional Dagu systems. The Ministry of Health emphasised the government's continued commitment to scaling up digital health innovations, such as Dagu, to achieve better health outcomes. 'This assessment reinforces what we've known—Dagu has the potential to transform our supply chain. But it also reminds us that sustainability requires more than just systems; it requires leadership, accountability, and integration,' said Teshome Deres, senior advisor for the state minister of the Ministry of Health. 'We are committed to working with our partners to ensure Dagu reaches its full potential across all health programs.' The workshop emphasized the importance of transforming these insights into action. Recommendations put forth include: Strengthening infrastructure and digital connectivity at health facilities Institutionalizing routine performance monitoring Enhancing interoperability with other national health systems like DHIS2 and ERP Introducing legal frameworks to support mandatory system use Expanding Dagu's coverage to all health programs, including those currently underrepresented such as EPI and nutrition The event was supported in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service (EPSS), and the Dagu Task Force, with the support from Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), ECHO, Results for Development (R4D), and WHO. With a strong political commitment and coordinated implementation, Ethiopia's journey toward a more efficient and equitable health supply chain continues—powered by innovation, data, and partnerships. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - Ethiopia.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
World Health Organization (WHO) recommends injectable lenacapavir for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention
The World Health Organization (WHO) released today new guidelines recommending the use of injectable lenacapavir (LEN) twice a year as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for HIV prevention, in a landmark policy action that could help reshape the global HIV response. The guidelines are being issued at the 13th International AIDS Society Conference (IAS 2025) on HIV Science, in Kigali, Rwanda. LEN, the first twice-yearly injectable PrEP product, offers a highly effective, long-acting alternative to daily oral pills and other shorter-acting options. With just two doses per year, LEN is a transformative step forward in protecting people at risk of HIV – particularly those who face challenges with daily adherence, stigma, or access to health care. 'While an HIV vaccine remains elusive, lenacapavir is the next best thing: a long-acting antiretroviral shown in trials to prevent almost all HIV infections among those at risk," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. 'The launch of WHO's new guidelines, alongside the FDA's recent approval, marks a critical step forward in expanding access to this powerful tool. WHO is committed to working with countries and partners to ensure this innovation reaches communities as quickly and safely as possible.' The new guidelines come at a critical moment as HIV prevention efforts stagnate with 1.3 million new HIV infections occurring in 2024 – with disproportionate impact among key and priority populations, including sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, people in prisons, and children and adolescents. WHO's recommendation on LEN signals a decisive move to expand and diversify HIV prevention, giving people more options to take control over their health with choices that fit their lives. Simplified testing: a major barrier removed As part of these guidelines, WHO has recommended a public health approach to HIV testing using HIV rapid tests to support delivery of long-acting injectable PrEP, including LEN and cabotegravir (CAB-LA). The simplified testing recommendation removes a major access barrier by eliminating complex, costly procedures and enabling community-based delivery of long-acting PrEP through pharmacies, clinics, and tele-health. Next steps: call for implementation LEN joins other WHO-recommended PrEP options, including daily oral PrEP, injectable cabotegravir and the dapivirine vaginal ring, as part of a growing arsenal of tools to end the HIV epidemic. While access to LEN outside clinical trials remains limited at the moment, WHO urges governments, donors and global health partners to begin rolling out LEN immediately within national combination HIV prevention programmes – while collecting essential data on uptake, adherence and real-world impact. Additional WHO recommendations at IAS 2025 For the first time, WHO's treatment guidelines include a clear recommendation for the use of long-acting injectable cabotegravir and rilpivirine (CAB/RPV) as an alternative switching option for antiretroviral therapy (ART) for adults and adolescents who have achieved full viral suppression on oral ART and do not have active hepatitis B infection. This approach is designed to support people living with HIV facing adherence challenges to oral regimens. Updated guidelines on service delivery integration include recommendations to integrate HIV services with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as mental health care for depression, anxiety and alcohol use disorders into HIV services, alongside interventions to support ART adherence. Additionally, new guidelines on management of asymptomatic STIs recommend screening of gonorrhoea and/or chlamydia in key and priority populations. For people living with HIV who have mpox and are either ART naive or have experienced prolonged ART interruption, rapid initiation of ART is strongly recommended. Additionally, early HIV testing is advised for individuals presenting with suspected or confirmed mpox infection. WHO's standard operating procedures further emphasize HIV and syphilis testing for all individuals with suspected or confirmed mpox. In response to the broader challenges facing HIV programmes, WHO has also issued new operational guidance on sustaining priority HIV services in a changing funding landscape. The guidance aims to provide a stepwise framework to help countries prioritize services, assess risks, monitor disruptions, and adapt systems to protect health outcomes and preserve progress. 'We have the tools and the knowledge to end AIDS as a public health problem,' said Dr Meg Doherty, Director of WHO's Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes and incoming Director of Science, Research, Evidence and Quality for Health. 'What we need now is bold implementation of these recommendations, grounded in equity and powered by communities.' HIV remains a major global public health issue. By the end of 2024, an estimated 40.8 million people were living with HIV with an estimated 65% in the WHO African Region. Approximately 630 000 people died from HIV-related causes globally, and an estimated 1.3 million people acquired HIV, including 120 000 children. Access to ART continues to expand, with 31.6 million people receiving treatment in 2024, up from 30.3 million in 2023. At a time of reduced funding for HIV and health, WHO's new and updated guidelines offer practical, evidence-based strategies to sustain momentum. By expanding prevention and treatment options, simplifying service delivery and promoting integration with broader health services, they support more efficient, equitable, and resilient HIV responses. Now is the moment for bold implementation to ensure these gains translate into real-world impact. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO).
