The Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute “Microbe” of Rospotrebnadzor was awarded the status of a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for responding to outbreaks of infectious diseases. This was reported in the press service of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing.
The Russian Federation, represented by Rospotrebnadzor, has extensive experience in rapid response to emergencies of sanitary and epidemiological nature. Specialized anti-epidemic brigades (SPEB) have been functioning on the basis of anti-plague institutes since 1963. They have recently been equipped with mobile laboratories. The SPEB of Rospotrebnadzor participate in the elimination of natural and man-made emergencies and infectious diseases outbreaks, work to ensure the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population during mass international events.
The Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute “Microbe” is the flagship of anti-plague institutions and a leader in the field of rapid response. The Anti-Plague Institute, among other things, participated in the elimination of the Ebola epidemic in 2014-2016 in the Republic of Guinea and in the mitigation of the consequences of the explosion at Beirut’s port (Lebanese Republic) in 2020, and helped organize the testing for the novel coronavirus infection in Tajikistan as part of the GOARN mission.
“Rospotrebnadzor is actively working on sharing the Russian experience of rapid response to sanitary and epidemiological emergencies in the CIS, the key direction of this work being specialists training, including during joint drill exercises. In October, the first international mobile laboratory training drills were held in Kazan, with the participation of our partners from the CIS, WHO, and mobile laboratories from Western European countries. Our experience of rapid response to biological threats is in demand at the international level, which is confirmed by the establishment of the WHO Collaborating Center,” the press service of the department noted.