Laboratory Diagnostics Responses to Emerging Infectious Diseases (including the COVID-19 Pandemic) and Preparedness for Future Pandemics in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region

Published Special Issues
29 August 2024
25 September 2024

This collection of articles highlights global responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on laboratory capacities, pathogen surveillance, and regional adaptations. It covers studies on respiratory viruses and laboratory enhancements in Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, as well as the expansion of genomic surveillance in the UAE and resourceful strategies in Somalia. These insights collectively showcase the diverse approaches and lessons learned in managing and preparing for emerging infectious diseases.


Guest Editors:

Maria Van Kerkhove ([email protected])
John McCauley ([email protected])
Laith Abu-Raddad ([email protected])

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Table of Contents

Open Access

Strengthening influenza surveillance capacity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Nearly two decades of direct support from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Kinda Zureick,  Margaret McCarron,  Patrick Dawson,  Jamie K. Davis,  John Barnes,  David Wentworth,  Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner, 
Open Access

Role of research Laboratories in pandemic and epidemic response in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Experiences from COVID-19, avian influenza, and MERS-CoV

Mona Mahmoud,  Rebecca Badra,  Ahmed Kandeil,  Rabeh El-Shesheny,  Jad Abdallah,  Mohamed A. Ali,  Ghazi Kayali, 
Open Access

A phased strengthening of laboratory capacity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region during the COVID-19 pandemic

Luke W. Meredith,  Mustafa Aboualy,  Rachel Ochola,  Mehmet Ozel,  Abdinasir Abubakar,  Amal Barakat, 
Open Access

Role of Laboratory in Emerging Infectious Disease Control in Iran, Pasteur Institute of Iran, and national laboratory network

Ali Maleki,  Ehsan Mostafavi,  Mehdi Fazlalipour,  Mostafa Salehi-Vaziri, 
Open Access

Presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater in the Kingdom of Bahrain during the COVID-19 pandemic

Afaf Merza Mohamed,  Ebrahim Matar,  Hasan M. Isa,  Ahmed K. Moosa,  Wafa Fawzi Hasan,  Amjad Ghanem Mohamed,  Adel Salman Al Sayyad,  Maryam Y. Sanad,  Maryam Alhajeri,  Najat Abu Alfatah,  Qasim M. Alaraibi, 
Open Access

Circulation patterns and molecular epidemiology of human respiratory syncytial virus over five consecutive seasons in Morocco

Abderrahman Bimouhen,  Zakia Regragui,  Fatima El Falaki,  Hassan Ihazmade,  Samira Benkerroum,  Amal Barakat,  Ahmed Rguig,  Touria Benamar,  Soumia Triki,  Youssef Bakri,  Hicham Oumzil, 
Open Access

Time trend of respiratory viruses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in severe acute respiratory virus infection in the Sultanate of Oman between 2017 and 2022

Hanan Al Kindi,  Luke William Meredith,  Amina Al-Jardani,  Fathima Sajina,  Intisar Al Shukri,  Rehan al Haj,  Fatma Alyaquobi,  Adil Al Wahaibi,  Amal Al Maani, 
Open Access

Evolutionary analysis of seasonal influenza A viruses in Pakistan 2020–2023

Nazish Badar,  Aamer Ikram,  Muhammad Salman,  Sidra Saeed,  Hamza Ahmed Mirza,  Abdul Ahad,  Massab Umair,  Umer Farooq, 
Open Access

Implementation and expansion of laboratory capacity for molecular diagnostics in response to COVID-19 and preparedness for other emerging infectious diseases in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Murad Momin Khan,  Mohamed Mostafa Tahoun,  Luke W. Meredith,  Amal Barakat,  Hafizullah Safi,  Ahmed Nasir Hanifi,  Mohammad Omar Mashal,  Abdul Wahid Amiri,  Alaa Abouzeid, 
Open Access

External Quality Assessment Program for SARS-COV-2 Molecular Detection in Pakistan

Nazish Badar,  Aamer Ikram,  Muhammad Salman,  Sidra Saeed,  Hamza Ahmed Mirza,  Abdul Ahad,  Asiya Ashraf,  Umer Farooq, 
Open Access

Monitoring the quality of SARS-CoV-2 virus detection in molecular diagnostic laboratories in the Eastern Mediterranean Region during the COVID-19 pandemic

Luke W. Meredith,  Mustafa Aboualy,  Rachel Ochola,  Mehmet Ozel,  Abdinasir Abubakar,  Amal Barakat, 
Open Access

A model for public–private partnership during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons from Biolab and public laboratories working in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Issa Abu-Dayyeh,  Zein Naber,  Luke W. Meredith,  Lora Alsawalha,  Dana Nassar,  Lara Sumrain,  Mohammad Ghunaim,  Thaer Hasan,  Amid Abdelnour, 
Open Access

Key aspects defining the development and implementation of a regional genomic surveillance strategy for the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Luke W. Meredith,  Mustafa Aboualy,  Rachel Ochola,  Patrick Okwarah,  Mehmet Ozel,  Abdinasir Abubakar,  Amal Barakat,