Managing dangerous pathogens: challenges in the wake of the recent West African Ebola outbreak

Abayomi, Akin; Katz, Rebecca; Spence, S. E.; Conton, Brian; Gevao, Sahr M.

doi:10.1080/23779497.2016.1228431

Cited by 9 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The principle expressed in these examples from the literature can be applied easily to other scenarios of research and data transfer in an emergency. We agree with recommendations that low- and low-middle income countries must improve their capacity for legislation and rapid ethics reviews to support MTAs and data sharing [ 21 , 29 ] and that these discussions must be further encouraged on international and national levels to focus on specific legislations that address authority, movement and biosafety and biosecurity of samples [ 23 ].…”

Section: Case Histories Illustrating Issues Related To Internationmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Because of the emergency conditions, some were moved without proper permits or permissions. Those having access to these exported samples included international partners involved with the response and collaborators from international academic institutions and commercial organizations [ 23 ]. Although case history 3 involved human biological samples, similar considerations would apply also to other types of materials or data.…”

Section: Case Histories Illustrating Issues Related To Internationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regulatory systems in place within the West African region to support sample transfer at the time of the EBOV outbreak were slow and cumbersome, and often consisted of processes that were not clearly defined or capably overseen. Furthermore, the crisis mode, lack of regulation and need for an urgent and immediate response resulted in a situation in which there was little accountability [ 23 ]. Ethical review boards and legislative bodies responsible for reviewing protocols and sample transfer documents were overwhelmed with the sheer amount of materials to review, and had limited training and capacity to manage such an event.…”

Section: Case Histories Illustrating Issues Related To Internationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Promoting Scientific Transparency to Facilitate the Safe and Open International Exchange of Biological Materials and Electronic Data

2017

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Scientific communication, collaboration and progress are enhanced through the exchange of data, materials and ideas. Recent advances in technology, commercial proprietary discovery and current local and global events (e.g., emerging human, animal and plant disease outbreaks) have increased the demand, and shortened optimal timelines for material and data exchange, both domestically and internationally. Specific circumstances in each case, such as the type of material being transferred (i.e., select agent, disease-causing agent and assessed biosafety risk level) and current events, dictate the level of agreements and requirements. Recent lessons learned from emerging disease issues and emergencies have demonstrated that human engagement and increased science diplomacy are needed to reinforce and sustain biosafety and biosecurity practices and processes, for better scientific transparency. A reasonable and accepted framework of guidance for open sharing of data and materials is needed that can be applied on multiple cooperative levels, including global and national. Although numerous agreement variations already exist for the exchange of materials and data, regulations to guide the development of both the language and implementation of such agreements are limited. Without such regulations, scientific exchange is often restricted, limiting opportunities for international capacity building, collaboration and cooperation. In this article, we present and discuss several international case histories that illustrate the complex nature of scientific exchange. Recommendations are made for a dual bottom-up and top-down approach that includes all stakeholders from beginning negotiation stages to emphasize trust and cooperation. The broader aim of this approach is to increase international scientific transparency and trust in a safe and open manner, supporting increased global one health security.

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Section: Case Histories Illustrating Issues Related To Internationmentioning

confidence: 73%

Section: Case Histories Illustrating Issues Related To Internationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Case Histories Illustrating Issues Related To Internationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Promoting Scientific Transparency to Facilitate the Safe and Open International Exchange of Biological Materials and Electronic Data

2017

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“…Outbreaks such as that of the 2014–2016 Ebola virus in West Africa have led to the generation of potentially tens of thousands of samples by health care workers and epidemiologists, many of which remain unaccounted for [7]. Due to the public health emergency and the subsequent demand for sample material and data, the local capacity for ethical review boards and material transfer were overwhelmed, which resulted in the improper removal and tracking of samples out of West Africa by international partners.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Achieving Health Security and Threat Reduction through Sharing Sequence Data

et al. 2019

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With the rapid development and broad applications of next-generation sequencing platforms and bioinformatic analytical tools, genomics has become a popular area for biosurveillance and international scientific collaboration. Governments from countries including the United States (US), Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom have leveraged these advancements to support international cooperative programs that aim to reduce biological threats and build scientific capacity worldwide. A recent conference panel addressed the impacts of the enhancement of genomic sequencing capabilities through three major US bioengagement programs on international scientific engagement and biosecurity risk reduction. The panel contrasted the risks and benefits of supporting the enhancement of genomic sequencing capabilities through international scientific engagement to achieve biological threat reduction and global health security. The lower costs and new bioinformatic tools available have led to the greater application of sequencing to biosurveillance. Strengthening sequencing capabilities globally for the diagnosis and detection of infectious diseases through mutual collaborations has a high return on investment for increasing global health security. International collaborations based on genomics and shared sequence data can build and leverage scientific networks and improve the timeliness and accuracy of disease surveillance reporting needed to identify and mitigate infectious disease outbreaks and comply with international norms. Further efforts to promote scientific transparency within international collaboration will improve trust, reduce threats, and promote global health security.

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“…19 The global response to the Ebola epidemic was reflective of the tendency toward fleeting investments in global health, with increased resources and capabilities declining in the immediate aftermath of the epidemic. 20 These shortcomings in the global response created an imperative to address national gaps in disease control authorities, with many governments thereafter demanding GHSA action plans as a “national security priority.” 21 Policymakers developed a five-year timeline for GHSA implementation (from 2015 to 2019) and requested that national governments create country-specific roadmaps to meet each action package as a basis to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. 22…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing National Public Health Law to Prevent Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Immunization Law as a Basis for Global Health Security

Ghedamu¹,

Meier²

2019

J. Law. Med. Ethics

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Immunization plays a crucial role in global health security, preventing public health emergencies of international concern and protecting individuals from infectious disease outbreaks, yet these critical public health benefits are dependent on immunization law. Where public health law has become central to preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious disease, public health law reform is seen as necessary to implement the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA). This article examines national immunization laws as a basis to implement the GHSA and promote the public's health, analyzing the scope and content of these laws to prevent infectious disease across Sub-Saharan Africa. Undertaking policy surveillance of national immunization laws in 20 Sub-Saharan African countries, this study: (1) developed a legal framework to map the legal attributes relevant to immunization; (2) created an assessment tool to determine the presence of these attributes under national immunization law; and (3) applied this assessment tool to code national legal landscapes. An analysis of these coded laws highlights legal attributes that govern vaccine requirements, supply chains, vaccine administration standards, and medicines quality and manufacturer liability. Based upon this international policy surveillance, it will be crucial to undertake legal epidemiology research across countries, examining the influence of immunization law on vaccination rates and disease outbreaks.

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Managing dangerous pathogens: challenges in the wake of the recent West African Ebola outbreak

Cited by 9 publications

References 3 publications

Promoting Scientific Transparency to Facilitate the Safe and Open International Exchange of Biological Materials and Electronic Data

Promoting Scientific Transparency to Facilitate the Safe and Open International Exchange of Biological Materials and Electronic Data

Achieving Health Security and Threat Reduction through Sharing Sequence Data

Assessing National Public Health Law to Prevent Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Immunization Law as a Basis for Global Health Security

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