Outbreak Response - ASLM

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Our organization is dedicated to providing accurate, timely, and actionable information on public health outbreaks to support communities, healthcare professionals, and policymakers in mitigating risks. Below are the current outbreaks we are monitoring closely.
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a family of viruses that cause a variety of respiratory illnesses. The virus that caused the outbreak in Wuhan, China on 31 December 2019 is new and has been named 2019 n-CoV. The virus is transmissible from both animals to people, and people to people. Since the beginning of the outbreak 2019 n-CoV has spread to many countries around the world, and WHO has called it a global health emergency of Pandamic proportion.
Learn more about the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, prevention measures, detection, management of cases, and research presented by global health organisations in the links below.
It is critical to implement quality assurance and biosafety and biosecurity measures in all COVID-19 testing laboratories. To support this, ASLM, in collaboration with Africa CDC and other partners and Member States from Africa, has developed a COVID-19 Laboratory Testing Certification Program (CoLTeP). Through standardised processes, CoLTeP evaluates a facility’s readiness and continued suitability to conduct quality COVID-19 testing safely. Where deficiencies are identified, ASLM will assist in implementing corrective measurements and monitoring their effectiveness. The program will offer recognition of incremental implementation of stated requirements and award a 0–5-star rating of facility performance. Only facilities obtaining a 5-star rating (90%) of requirements will be authorized to perform COVID-19 testing and qualify for listing on the Africa Union Trusted Travel platform as an approved and Ministry of Health-recognized testing facility.
To ensure sustainability as well rapid scalability, ASLM will use locally trained and certified assessors to conduct assessments. The designated focal person/office from the Ministry of Health is responsible for identifying potential testing facilities and collect required documentation to submit to ASLM Secretariat. The MoH shall consider the potential throughput of the applicant laboratory to ensure acceptable turnaround times will be achieved.
At minimum, the following documents shall be submitted:
NOTE: Where a laboratory is re-applying (at least 3 months after last assessment), the application shall be accompanied by a completed laboratory action plan with documented evidence of effectives of implemented corrective actions.
Upon review, a letter of notification of enrolment is issued by ASLM Secretariat with communication of assessment logistics. At the completion of the assessment, audit reports are submitted to the ASLM Secretariat for approval and award of certificate valid for 12 months. The COVID-19 Testing Certification Program is comprised of the following stakeholders: Ministries of Health, applicant laboratories, COVID-19 Laboratory Testing Certification auditors and ASLM.
To ensure coordination, laboratories apply to Ministry of Health (MoH) requesting certification. MoH then prioritizes potential applicant testing facilities and submit approved applicants to ASLM Secretariat for enrolment.
Laboratory already with ISO Accreditation for their COVID-19 test do not need to apply for CoLTeP but will be automatically adopted into the African Union Trusted Travel Platform.
ASLM strives to keep laboratory networks in Africa connected and informed of diagnostic tools, techniques, procedures and advancements related to COVID-19 testing with interactive training and information sessions using the Extended Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) model and Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform from Future Learn.
Ebola virus disease (EVD), is a severe, often fatal illness transmitted to people from animals (often fruit bats) that spreads in people through contact with blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people. The largest and most complex Ebola outbreak in modern times was in West Africa from 2014-2016. More recently there has been an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Read more about the EVD epidemic, prevention measures and management of cases at:
The 8 May 2018 outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has brought together laboratorians and clinicians from around the world to support the ongoing crisis. The resources below will help you stay informed of the situation and provide a way to get involved.
Take a look at the most up-to-date information on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Source: WHO)
2018-2019 Ebola outbreak situation
Latest Outbreak News
ASLM supports Africa CDC in containing the epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo. ASLM is providing Africa CDC with credentials of Ebola experts to recruit for help on the ground as the containment continues.
In support of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) efforts to contain the outbreak and meet the potential need for laboratory professionals on the ground, ASLM has issued a general call for laboratory professionals who are ready to deploy to DRC. Interested individuals should respond by following the link below and uploading a resume or CV.
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness, with a case fatality rate of up to 90%. It is one of the world’s most virulent diseases.The infection is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people. Severely ill patients require intensive