RITM, through its National Reference Laboratory for Dengue and other Arbovirus, hosted a three-day Arbovirus Laboratory Training at the Training Center from August 27 to 29, 2019.

A total of eight (8) participants from Indonesia and four (4) from the Philippines attended the training. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Puerto Rico Branch Trainer Gilberto Santiago and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Lionel Gresh lead the molecular diagnosis using US CDC Trioplex PCR. Meanwhile, National Environment Agency (NEA) Judith Wong and Yee Ling Nai facilitated the training on laboratory detection using the Inbios ELISA kit. Sacha Bootsma and Gerardo Medina from WHO Philippine Country office visited the participants to monitor and discuss their progress. 

The arbovirus laboratory training is in preparation for a World Health Organization (WHO) funded study to detect Zika Virus using samples collected from measles/rubella surveillance for the past five years. Philippines, along with Indonesia and Myanmar, are some of the participating countries, with Ava Kristy Lee as the country’s principal investigator for the project. The WHO-funded study aims to determine the next steps for Zika control and prevention strategy across nations. 

by Ma. Patricia Lansang, Project Evaluation Officer II, Communication and Engagement Office