Proceedings

Applied One Health: Nigeria National Veterinary Research Institute COVID-19 pandemic response

Clement A. Meseko, Ismaila Shittu, Olayinka O. Asala, Adeyinka J. Adedeji, Tinuke A. Laleye, Ebere R. Agusi, Dorcas A. Gado, Kayode A. Olawuyi, Nicodemus Mkpuma, Chinyere Chinonyerem, Bitrus Inuwa, Nneka Chima, Ruth Akintola, Patrick Nyango, Hellen Luka, Judith Bakam, Rebecca Atai, Dennis Kabantiyok, Mark Samson, ThankGod Daniel, Joshua Oyetunde, Olajide A. Owolodun, David D. Lazarus, Emmanuel T. Obishakin, Pam D. Luka, Benshak J. Audu, Sunday Makama, Hussaini G. Ularamu, Yiltawe S. Wungak, James S. Ahmed, Reuben A. Ocholi, Maryam Muhammad
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research | Vol 91, No 2 | a2156 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v91i2.2156 | © 2024 Clement A. Meseko, Ismaila Shittu, Olayinka O. Asala, Adeyinka J. Adedeji, Tinuke A. Laleye, Ebere R. Agusi, Dorcas A. Gado, Kayode A. Olawuyi, Nicodemus Mkpuma, Chinyere Chinonyerem, Bitrus Inuwa, Nneka Chima, Ruth Akintola, Patrick Nyango, Hellen Luka, | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 27 December 2023 | Published: 04 September 2024

About the author(s)

Clement A. Meseko, Department of Infectious and Transboundary Animal Diseases (ITADs), National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Ismaila Shittu, Department of Quality Assurance, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Olayinka O. Asala, Department of Vaccine Production, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Adeyinka J. Adedeji, Department of Bacteriology, Parasitology and Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Tinuke A. Laleye, Department of Quality Assurance, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Ebere R. Agusi, Department of Biochemistry, Biotech and Drug Development, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Dorcas A. Gado, Department of Infectious and Transboundary Animal Diseases (ITADs), National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Kayode A. Olawuyi, Department of Infectious and Transboundary Animal Diseases (ITADs), National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Nicodemus Mkpuma, Department of Infectious and Transboundary Animal Diseases (ITADs), National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Chinyere Chinonyerem, Department of Infectious and Transboundary Animal Diseases (ITADs), National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Bitrus Inuwa, Department of Infectious and Transboundary Animal Diseases (ITADs), National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Nneka Chima, Department of Biochemistry, Biotech and Drug Development, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Ruth Akintola, Department of Infectious and Transboundary Animal Diseases (ITADs), National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Patrick Nyango, Department of Biochemistry, Biotech and Drug Development, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Hellen Luka, Department of Biochemistry, Biotech and Drug Development, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Judith Bakam, Department of Infectious and Transboundary Animal Diseases (ITADs), National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Rebecca Atai, Department of Bacteriology, Parasitology and Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Dennis Kabantiyok, Department of Diagnostic Services, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Mark Samson, Department of Biochemistry, Biotech and Drug Development, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
ThankGod Daniel, Department of Biochemistry, Biotech and Drug Development, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Joshua Oyetunde, Department of Infectious and Transboundary Animal Diseases (ITADs), National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State
Olajide A. Owolodun, Department of Biochemistry, Biotech and Drug Development, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
David D. Lazarus, Department of Infectious and Transboundary Animal Diseases (ITADs), National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Emmanuel T. Obishakin, Department of Biochemistry, Biotech and Drug Development, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Pam D. Luka, Department of Biochemistry, Biotech and Drug Development, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Benshak J. Audu, Department of Biochemistry, Biotech and Drug Development, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Sunday Makama, Department of Biochemistry, Biotech and Drug Development, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Hussaini G. Ularamu, Department of Infectious and Transboundary Animal Diseases (ITADs), National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Yiltawe S. Wungak, Department of Infectious and Transboundary Animal Diseases (ITADs), National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
James S. Ahmed, Department of Diagnostic Services, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Reuben A. Ocholi, Department of Bacteriology, Parasitology and Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria
Maryam Muhammad, Department of Bacteriology, Parasitology and Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the death of 7.1 million people worldwide as of 7 July 2024. In Nigeria, the first confirmed case was reported on 27 February 2020, subsequently followed by a nationwide spread of SARS-CoV-2 with morbidity and mortality reaching 267 173 and 3155, respectively, as of 7 July 2024. At the beginning of the pandemic, only a few public health laboratories in Nigeria had the capacity for SARS-CoV-2 molecular diagnosis. The National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), already experienced in influenza diagnosis, responded to the public health challenge for the diagnosis of COVID-19 samples from humans. The feat was possible through the collective utilisation of NVRI human and material resources, including biosafety facilities, equipment, reagents and consumables donated by international partners and collaborators. Within 6 months of the reported COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria, over 33 000 samples were processed in NVRI facilities covering five states. Thereafter, many field and laboratory projects were jointly implemented between NVRI and collaborating sectors including the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), which brought together professionals in the health, veterinary, education and socio-sciences. In addition, One Health grants were secured to enhance surveillance for coronavirus and other zoonoses and build capacity in genomics. Bio-surveillance for coronaviruses and other emerging zoonotic pathogens at the human–animal interface was activated and continued with sample collection and analysis in the laboratory for coronaviruses, Lassa fever virus and Mpox. One Health approach has shown that inter-sectoral and multinational collaboration for diagnosis, research and development in animals, and the environment to better understand pathogen spillover events at the human–animal interface is an important global health priority and pandemic preparedness.


Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic; SARS-CoV-2; diagnosis; NVRI; One Health

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

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