The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has compelled Institut Pasteur de Cote d'Ivoire (IPCI) to set up strategies for an outstanding mobilisation of human resources to fight against it. Among these strategies, we can quote the screening of people requesting COVID-19 tests at IPCI for emergency travel after the lifting of flight restrictions. Newly recruited Young researchers at IPCI, as well as Ph.D. students and trainees, were mobilised. This document describes firstly, the benefits, knowledge acquired, and difficulties encountered, and secondly, recommendations to be followed for a future large-scale epidemic. This study helped to outline some achievements, such as upgrading the talents of young researchers, strong collaboration between young researchers from different fields, and between IPCI and other institutions. The lessons learned are numerous, including mood and stress management. The difficulties encountered during this study are mainly misunderstandings, increased workload, and insufficient awareness of COVID-19 travel test procedures. These results are relevant for a possible pandemic management in our country, as well as in other African countries.

Aims: The present study relates to the hygienic status of medicinal plants sold on markets of the district of Abidjan. This paper focused on Sarcocephalus latifolius used to treat various diseases such as Malaria. Place and Duration of Study: The ethnobotanical survey was conducted during November 2017, on the Siaka Koné market in Abobo. The microbiology study was carried out at “InstitutPasteur de Côte d’Ivoire”. Methodology: A semi-structured interview was used during the survey. Germs were isolated and microbial load counted from aqueous extracts (maceration) of collected samples of stem bark using standard bacteriology methods. Investigations were also made on control sample collected in the Savannah at Lamto reserve (Toumodi). Results: 86% of the plants sold on this market are not well maintained. In fact, 53% of plant organs are stored outdoors on pieces of brick exposed to dust, air humidity and car exhaust. While 20% are under black tarpaulins or stored in dilapidated stores away from light and 13% in bags in open air. To confirm our survey, Sarcocepha luslatifolius was selected from the highest frequency of citations for performing microbiological tests. The number of total coliforms ranged from 1.3×103 to 9.2×107 CFU/g plant, the mean value of total coliforms was 4.7×105 CFU/g, that of mesophilic aerobic germs from 8.1×103 to 5.1×105 CFU/g of plants, the average value of mesophilic aerobic germs was 1.2×105 CFU/g. The presence of Streptococcus, Pseudomonas and Escherichia coli was observed respectively on 93.33%, 16.67% and 3.33% of the samples collected. Conclusion: Medicinal plants sold and stored under current market conditions are potentially dangerous to health.

The present study was carried out to inventory medicinal plants storage conditions on the markets of Abidjan district. A survey was conducted from August to October 2015 in three settings of the district of Abidjan (Abobo, Adjame and Yopougon). A total of 350 sellers of medicinal plants were interrogated using semi-structured interviews. The respondents were predominantly female (98.9%), aged between 30 and 60 years. The supply of medicinal plants in the markets was done by the wholesalers (86%) who themselves harvested plants in different forests or savanah of Côte d’Ivoire. The majority of sellers (73%) did not apply any measure of hygiene in storage. These people in 99.4% of case were not trained on good storage practices. Sale places were accessible to rodents and exposed to dust caused by traffic jamp. The presence of mud (9.1%) and garbage (23.1%) was noted in the immediate surrounding of the displays. These practices of processing and storage of medicinal plants were similar in all the visited settings. These storage conditions may constitute a hazardous risk for the consumer and justify the degradation of medicinal plants on the markets.

The present study was carried out to inventory medicinal plants storage conditions on the markets of Abidjan district. A survey was conducted from August to October 2015 in three settings of the district of Abidjan (Abobo, Adjame and Yopougon). A total of 350 sellers of medicinal plants were interrogated using semi-structured interviews. The respondents were predominantly female (98.9%), aged between 30 and 60 years. The supply of medicinal plants in the markets was done by the wholesalers (86%) who themselves harvested plants in different forests or savanah of Côte d'Ivoire. The majority of sellers (73%) did not apply any measure of hygiene in storage. These people in 99.4% of case were not trained on good storage practices. Sale places were accessible to rodents and exposed to dust caused by traffic jamp. The presence of mud (9.1%) and garbage (23.1%) was noted in the immediate surrounding of the displays. These practices of processing and storage of medicinal plants were similar in all the visited settings. These storage conditions may constitute a hazardous risk for the consumer and justify the degradation of medicinal plants on the markets.