Epidemic outbreaks of infectious diseases pose a substantial risk for public health services worldwide. In particular, remote rural areas are susceptible as surveillance infrastructure is often limited. Diagnostic units must be available on-site in all populated areas to quickly mitigate local outbreaks to survey the population and prevent more significant outbreaks. This has been true also in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To support the Republic of Uzbekistan in increasing its capacities in disease surveillance and outbreak mitigation, two training workshops were carried out from 18-29 September 2023. These trainings were conducted within the framework of the German Foreign Office’s Biosecurity Programme by experts from the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology (IMB), the scientific centre of competence for the medical biological defence of the German Armed Forces.

IMB’s current mobile lab efforts in Uzbekistan build on a predecessor project funded by the European Union’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Centres of Excellence (EU CBRN CoE) Initiative. As part of this project, two mobile laboratories for diagnostics of highly contagious pathogens were handed over to the Uzbek Ministry of Public Health in 2020, and a team of Uzbekistan experts was trained in mobile diagnostics from 2020-2022.

The latest visit of the IMB experts started with a 5-day workshop and was hosted by the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Epidemiology, Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (RSSPMCEMIPD). The workshop comprised in-depth training on PCR diagnostics of infections in various specimens (e.g., blood, swab, urine) and PCR troubleshooting in case of implausible diagnostic results. Also, new Uzbek scientists joined the mobile diagnostics team.

In the second part of their visit, the IMB experts joined Uzbek colleagues from the Research Institute of Virology (RIV) on a field study trip to Sirdarya region to practice the integration of the mobile laboratory into the institute’s field activities. This successful study trip was completed by a 2-day follow-up workshop, generously hosted by RSSPMCEMIPD.

In the ongoing phase of the German Biosecurity Programme, IMB aims to strengthen the UZB mobile lab capacities by establishing a Train-the-Trainer programme at both partner institutes. The Train-the-Trainer programme will ensure the transfer of knowledge independent of the German trainer team. Furthermore, the techniques and methods in sample taking and handling will be assessed and optimized according to international standards. The project activities are completed through tailored biosafety & biosecurity trainings and intensifying scientific exchange between Uzbekistan and Germany.

The German Biosecurity Programme was initiated by the German Foreign Office in 2013 to support partner countries in improving their national capacities in the field of biosafety & biosecurity. The programme is currently funded until 2025.

The EU funded the mobile laboratories and associated trainings within Project 53 of the EU CBRN CoE Initiative. Project 53 was implemented by the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC).

Otabek KASIMOV, 

National Coordinator of the Republic of Uzbekistan,

CBRN CoE Regional Secretariat of Central Asia

UzA