There has been a continuous emergence and re-emergence of dangerous pathogens of epidemic across Africa. Diseases such as Ebola, Marburg, Rift Valley fever, Plague, Monkeypox, Lassa Fever, SARS, Tularaemia, Borreliosis, Melioidosis, etc are permanent threats to people especially those in African . This is a major challenge to global health security.

As such, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Emerging and Dangerous Pathogens Laboratory Network (EDPLN), met in Yaounde from August 13-15th 2019, with the aim of promoting networking of public health reference laboratories for prevention, preparedness, early detection, investigation and timely response of outbreak of such diseases, including high-threat infectious hazards.

The workshop had in attendance technicians from 14 African countries and was opened by the Secretary General at the Ministry of Public Health, Sinata Koulla-Shiro. He said the meeting will help improve the networking of public health reference laboratories for the prevention, preparation, early detection, and real-time response of emerging diseases at high risk of infection.

Habimana Phanuel, The WHO Resident Representative, said the Regional Emerging and Dangerous Pathogens Laboratory Network (EDPLN) was established in August 2017, to enhance the capacities of laboratories in the Region to enable quick detection and diagnose outbreaks of emerging and dangerous pathogens (EDPs). He stated that the network is made up of global and regional EDPLN networks of high security human and veterinary diagnostic laboratories, which contribute to outbreak response and preparedness as well as rapid development of diagnostic assays for emerging and infectious pathogens globally.

Habimana Phanuel said the 3 day workshop was to enable laboratory experts share best practices and experiences while they improve their performances and that of their countries to quickly detect and respond to what is today known as emerging dangerous pathogens such as Ebola.