Emerging Viral Diseases-Expert Laboratory Network (EVD-LabNet)

Target viruses

The network covers viruses significant to public health from the following genera (families):

• Alphavirus (Togaviridae)
• Coltivirus (Reoviridae)
• Ebolavirus (Filoviridae)
• Flavivirus (Flaviviridae)
• Henipavirus (Paramyxoviridae)
• Lyssavirus (Rhabdoviridae)
• Mammarenavirus (Arenaviridae)
• Marburgvirus (Filoviridae)
• Orbivirus (Reoviridae)
• Orthobornavirus (Bornaviridae)
• Orthobunyavirus (Peribunyaviridae)
• Orthohantavirus (Hantaviridae)
• Orthonairovirus (Nairoviridae)
• Orthorubulavirus (Paramyxoviridae)
• Orthopoxvirus (Poxviridae)
• Parapoxvirus (Poxviridae)
• Phlebovirus (Phenuiviridae)
• Thogotovirus (Orthomyxoviridae)
• Respirovirus (Paramyxoviridae)
• Vesiculovirus (Rhabdoviridae).

Objectives

EVD-LabNet supports clinical diagnostics, surveillance, threat assessments and outbreak preparedness and response by providing essential background information on target viruses, with a focus on:

• scientific expertise concerning the viruses, their make-up, pathogenesis, physicochemical properties, and patient- and population-oriented detection/ruling out of infection;
• (reference) diagnostics;
• state-of-the-art European diagnostic portfolio, diagnostic capacity and capability;
• molecular detection and characterisation support for response and surveillance activities;
• training courses, workshops and webinars for virologists (selected training/webinars will be open to public health epidemiologists);
• twinning activities (transnational education);
• annual meetings to strengthen the coherence of the network and provide a platform to exchange knowledge

Most activities are restricted to network members but some will be open to non-network members. Check the list of activities below and register for the newsletter to be informed.

Ongoing activities

External quality assessments (EQAs)

In 2022 an EQA for molecular detection of emerging alphaviruses (including Sindbis virus, O'nyong'nyong virus, Mayaro virus, Barmah Forest virus, Ross River virus, Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Western equine encephalitis virus, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus) was executed with 23 participating laboratories. Individual results were reported back to the participants to support timely corrective actions if needed. In-depth analysis is currently ongoing and will be presented in a technical report and a manuscript for a wider audience. 

In 2023 an EQA for molecular detection of dengue virus, chikungunya virus, Zika virus, Japanese encephalitis virus and yellow fever virus was initiated. Over 30 laboratories signed up for this EQA. The individual results will be reported to the participating laboratories early 2024; in addition a technical report and a manuscript will be produced.  

Training courses and webinars

A face-to-face training on virus culture, characterization, and neutralization will take place in Belgrade, Serbia in February 2023. Registration for this training is closed. 

Annual network meeting

The sixth annual network meeting took place on 30-31 May 2023 in Padova, Italy. 

Newsletter

Governance

EVD-LabNet is coordinated by Dr Chantal Reusken from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).

EVD-LabNet Management Team

The management team is responsible for the design and implementation of activities. The management team is composed of:

• Dr Chantal Reusken from RIVM (the Netherlands)
• Prof. Rémi Charrel from the University of Aix-Marseille (France, deputy coordinator)
• Dr Luisa Barzon from the University of Padova (Italy)
• Prof. Marion Koopmans from Erasmus MC (the Netherlands)
• Prof. Anna Papa from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece)
• Prof. Olli Vapalahti from the University of Helsinki (Finland)
• Dr Tamas Bakonyi from ECDC
• Dr Céline Gossner from ECDC.

EVD-LabNet Scientific Advisory Board

The Scientific Advisory Board advises the management team on scientific aspects of the network activities. The board consists of the following representatives:

• Dr Chantal Reusken from RIVM (the Netherlands)
• Prof. Roger Hewson from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (United Kingdom)
• Dr Yaniv Lustig from the National Center for Zoonotic Viruses (Israel)
• Prof. Bruno Coutard from the University of Aix-Marseille (France)
• Dr Antonino Di Caro from the National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani”, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital and Unicamillus International Medical University of Rome (Italy)
• Prof. Martin Groschup from the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (Germany)
• Dr Stephan Zientara from the Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (France)
• Dr Harold Noël from Santé publique France (France)
• Dr Cinthia Menel Lemos from the European Commission
• Dr Joanna Zwetyenga from the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe
• Dr Tamas Bakonyi from ECDC
• Dr Céline Gossner from ECDC.