Examples of One Health co-operation in COVID-19 diagnostics: Sciensano veterinary laboratories are contributing to COVID-19 testing in Belgium

Our world faces the COVID-19 global pandemic, and many One Health EJP consortium partners have key roles in managing the situation at national level across Europe.

For example, FAO has recognised that enormous processivity is needed for the diagnostic capacity required, and OIE has provided guidance for how veterinary laboratories can provide support. Veterinary laboratories have an extraordinary experience in the diagnosis of infectious diseases also in emergency situations and can therefore be tremendously supportive in this. In this series of ‘Examples of One Health co-operation in COVID-19 diagnostics’, we highlight how One Health co-operation has been established across Europe.

Sciensano, Belgium:

The veterinary laboratories at Sciensano are collaborating with other laboratories to increase the diagnostic capacity in Belgium in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Reference laboratories in Belgium have been testing for SARS-CoV-2 for a number of weeks. Now, in a step to take a One Health approach to the pandemic, Sciensano’s veterinary laboratories and pharmaceutical and other veterinary laboratories are now joining forces to increase the country’s diagnostic capability.

Experts at Sciensano will initially perform testing of approximately 100 samples per day, with capacity increasing in the coming weeks. This will contribute to more rapid diagnostics and a better understanding of the epidemiology of the disease.

For more information on Sciensano’s role in the COVID-19 response, click here.