Covid, to combat it, the WHO launches a new network of Covinet laboratories

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new network to fight coronaviruses. It is called Covinet and aims to facilitate and coordinate global expertise and capabilities for early and accurate detection, monitoring and evaluation of Sars-cov-2, mers-cov and new coronaviruses of public health importance.

Covinet is a network of global laboratories with expertise in coronavirus surveillance in humans, animals and the environment, which to date includes 36 laboratories from twenty-one countries in all six WHO regions. Representatives of the laboratories met in Geneva on March 26 and 27 to finalize an action plan for 2024-2025 so that states are better equipped for early diagnosis, risk assessment and response to health-related challenges to the coronavirus.

‘Coronaviruses have repeatedly demonstrated their epidemic and pandemic risk. We thank our partners around the world who are working to better understand high-threat coronaviruses such as sars, mers and covid-19 and to detect new coronaviruses – said Maria Van Kerkhove, acting director of the Department of Coronavirus Preparedness and Prevention WHO epidemics and pandemics -. This new global coronavirus network will ensure the timely detection, monitoring and evaluation of coronaviruses of public health importance. Data generated through covinet will guide the work of WHO Technical Advisory Groups on viral evolution and vaccine composition, ensuring that global health policies and tools are based on the latest scientific information.”

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