Low Level of Awareness in Biosafety and Biosecurity among Professionals in Uganda: A Potential Risk in the Dual-Use Dilemma

Abstract

Disease diagnosis, and analysis or manipulation of both human and animal samples, expose scientists and practitioners to disease causing agents and toxins. In situations of poor awareness of biosecurity, the same samples can easily be accessed by persons with wrong intentions or misused by the same scientists or practitioners (dualuse). In Uganda information required to minimize the global challenges of biosafety and biosecurity has been largely lacking. The current study assessed the level of awareness and existence of procedures, regulations, laws and policies on biosafety and biosecurity among institutions in the different sectors, professions and regions across the country. Results showed that sector, profession and region were each a predictor for nine of the assessed variables. Among the most striking was that profession significantly influenced (χ 2 =49.0) the opinion that institutional measures to prevent or prohibit production, stockpiling, retention or unimpeded access to pathogenic agents and biological toxins existed. Professionals (veterinary scientists and laboratory technologists) in animal health research had reduced odds of holding this opinion (OR=0.2, 95% CI: 0.05-0.87) compared to their counterparts in public hygiene. Scientific establishments in eastern (OR=0.3, 95% CI: 0.17-0.7, p<0.01), northern (OR=0.4, 95% CI: 0.17-0.71, p<0.01) and western (OR=0.3, 95% CI: 0.16-0.51, p<0.01) regions were less associated with professionals trained in biosafety and biosecurity compared to central Uganda. Professionals in wildlife conservation, medical, human health research, public hygiene and crop extension services were 9.5, 7.0, 5.7, 5.4 and 4.0 times, respectively, more likely to consider Uganda's disease monitoring system as adequate compared to those in veterinary services sector. We conclude that there is inadequate level of awareness on laboratory biosafety and biosecurity among professionals in the country. There is need for raising awareness and training of relevant professionals and formulation of measures, policies, regulations and laws to help prevent exposure to and misuse of dangerous biological agents and toxins in Uganda.

Status of Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity in Veterinary Research Facilities in Nigeria

“…Detailed studies on laboratory biosafety and biosecurity in Africa are uncommon [23], [25]. In Nigeria, no study to date has assessed the state of biosafety and biosecurity in the few available veterinary research facilities.…”

“…Previous studies have focused on laboratory biosafety and biosecurity as it relates to laboratory technicians [19] , [20] , clinical microbiology laboratories [20] , [21] , [22] medical diagnostic laboratories [23] , [24] , and pharmaceutical and biotechnology laboratories [23] that work with human pathogens. Detailed studies on laboratory biosafety and biosecurity in Africa are uncommon [23] , [25] . In Nigeria, no study to date has assessed the state of biosafety and biosecurity in the few available veterinary research facilities.…”

Knowledge and Practices Regarding Usage of Biological Safety Cabinets

“…Poor enforcement reduces adherence to safety principles, which increases the risk of exposure to hazardous agents. 10 Moreover, differences in the way that different laboratories adapt WHO guidelines to fit their settings could further explain the differences in knowledge and practices observed.…”

“…Basically, training has been identified as an effective approach to increase the competence of laboratory workers and their biosafety and biosecurity knowledge, as well as to create awareness about the hazards posed by research and diagnostic laboratories. 10 Packaging these concepts into a program and delivering them through a formal training approach further facilitates learning, application, and adherence. 7,11 On comparing training outcomes among participants with <5 and >5 years of experience, those with fewer years of experience presented a significant improvement in the postworkshop survey although they had a lower average score during the preworkshop survey.…”

Assessment of the Biorisk Status of Veterinary Laboratories in Southwest Nigeria: Application of the Food and Agriculture Organization Laboratory Mapping Tool-Safety Module

“…5 In Africa, detailed studies of laboratory biosafety and biosecurity are uncommon. 10,11 For instance, in Nigeria, only 1 study assessed the level of knowledge of laboratory biosafety at veterinary research facilities. 6 Elsewhere, several studies have focused on laboratory biosafety and biosecurity as they relate to laboratory scientists, 12,13 clinical microbiology laboratories, 14,15 medical diagnostic laboratories, 10,16 and pharmaceutical and biotechnology laboratories 10 that work with human pathogens, but little on animal biosafety.…”