Submission of samples from initial events to regional and world reference laboratories

Rapid and full transparency is a difficult policy for some countries to introduce for various reasons, but its benefits offset the problems. Few countries that have established a policy of transparency return to a policy of concealment. There is often a natural tendency to not want to admit to problems, particularly in the higher tiers of government, but the CVO should work to prevent this by stressing the benefits of transparency in the short, medium and long term.

submIssIon of samPles from InItIal events to regIonal and world reference laboratorIes

An understanding of the source of an outbreak can be greatly assisted through characterization of the pathogen from the early outbreaks, particularly if the primary outbreak site can be identified and sampled. Certainly, samples from the index case(s) should be submitted to reference laboratories as soon as possible. As well as having importance from an international point of view, this also aids the submitting country – by helping to identify the initial source (and so an ongoing risk) and vaccine selection, where appropriate, and by helping to build an international understanding of transmission routes to enable better focus on measures aimed at preventing an incursion.

If background information relating to the case is also sent with the samples, more informative results might be achieved.