New knowledge in fighting biothreats
Finland is training Tanzanian veterinarians and experts in diagnosing
infectious diseases like Ebola or anthrax.
Laboratory equipment for analysing pathogens from samples was sent to Tanzania from Finland this spring. This
started the practical phase of a Finnish-Tanzanian project aiming at improving the capacity of Tanzanians to
diagnose infectious diseases such as Ebola, Anthrax, Influenza A or Rift Valley Fever. Now they can be detected
in Tanzania with state-of-the-art technology equipment.
Picture: Markos Mölsä
Tanzanian experts at work during the diagnostic training.
In April 2015, Anna Katz and Markos Mölsä arrived in Dar Es Salaam to train the local veterinarians and experts
to use the diagnostic methods and equipment sent from Finland.
"There are projects like these in other countries, but as far as we know, this is among the first ones in Tanzania,"
said Anna Katz, a senior researcher from the Centres for Biothreat Preparedness and for Military Medicine of the
Finnish Defence Forces.
Dr Anna Katz and her colleague MSc Markos Mölsä, also a researcher at the Finnish Defence Forces, are
experts involved in implementation of the project called'Strengthening Health and Biosecurity in Tanzania by
Biodetection Capacity Building'.The project falls under the so-called ICI development cooperation in which
institutions from different countries cooperate with the aim to strengthen the public sector in the partnering
country. The funding for the project comes from Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
"Our partner organization is the Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency (TVLA), an executive agency at the
Tanzanian Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development," Katz continued.
The 5-year project was launched in October 2014 and its purpose is to strengthen the laboratory capacity in
diagnosing infectious diseases in Tanzania as well as raise awareness in biosecurity and biosafety in the country.
Nowadays microbes can spread rapidly across borders due to increased trade and travel. New microbes as well
as increased antimicrobial resistance make the situation more worrying. In this project, the identification of
infectious microbes in Tanzania is carried out with fast, reliable diagnostic detection methods which can also be
used on the field.
Training experts in the Tanzanian context
Because the climate in Tanzania is tropical, the microbial diversity found in the country is vast. In Tanzania quite
many life-threatening, infectious diseases, which have disappeared from for example European countries, can
still be found.
"Many of the possible biothreat agents, for which we are developing identification methods, can be found in
nature in Tanzania," Katz explained. "For example Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax sometimes
causes epidemics in livestock in the country, and a few cases have been reported in humans as well."
The project concentrates on zoonoses, which are diseases that can be naturally transmitted from animals to
humans. According to the World Health Organization, 60% of the microbes that cause diseases to human are
zoonotic. One of the main goals of the project partner in Tanzania, TVLA, is to prevent and recognize animal
diseases and monitor the animal disease situation in the country.
Picture: Simo Nikkari
Samples from animals were taken on the field. TVLA veterinarians with Maasai herders.
"We trained six experts on how to use the diagnostic methods and equipment," Markos Mölsä said.
"Later on we will focus on training more experts and authorities in human health as well as those working in
veterinary sector. These experts can train others to use the equipment, as that way the skills and knowledge
are spread", he continued.
"The training included some basic laboratory techniques, as well as working in the field", Katz described. "We
spent long days working in the laboratory, but it was very rewarding since the TVLA experts were very committed
and excited about learning new techniques".
Local circumstances have from time to time influenced the training.
"Electricity cuts are not uncommon in Tanzania, and therefore we are trying to develop a durable battery for the
instrument we are using here. That is also important if the instrument is taken to the field to diagnose epidemics,
like it is ultimately supposed to", Anna Katz said.
Viruses on the global agenda
Professor Simo Nikkari, Director of the Research and Development Department of the Centre for Military
Medicine, says that this project is Finland's contribution under the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA). GHSA
is a cooperative forum intended to support the work of international organizations and more than 40 countries in
the fight against biological health threats.
"Finland is chairing the GHSA in 2015 and this project supports also Finland's other international agreements,
goals and commitments concerning biothreats and improvement of biosecurity," Ms Tiina Raijas from the Finnish
Ministry of Defence (MOD) added.
Hanna-Leena Korteniemi from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland explains that Tanzania was chosen as
a partner country because of the long tradition of cooperation between Finland and Tanzania. After assessments
made together with the Tanzanian partners, a project that produces concrete tools was developed
Both Ms Raijas and Ms Korteniemi oversee the project and participate in the coordination of other Finnish GHSA
activities.
Future plans
Training courses will continue twice a year, both in Tanzania and in Finland. The Tanzanian partners have
already presented the project in an international, scientific congress in Finland.
Picture: Anna Katz
TVLA experts and Markos Mölsä analysing the samples with mobile qPCR instrument.
"Basically this project is more about training than about the equipment, as new, better and more affordable
equipment is being developed all the time", Nikkari said. "After the end of the project, the knowledge stays in
Tanzania."
But for the coming years, working and learning in the Tanzanian and Finnish laboratories will continue!
More information about GHSA in Finland: http://stm.fi/ministerio/kansainvaliset-asiat/ghsa
The homepage of Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency (TVLA): http://www.tvla-tz.org/
Written by Iida Kalmanlehto, Assistant Programme Officer