The African Centre of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (ACEEZD) at the University of Zambia

The increased reports in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) of emerging and zoonotic diseases, such as influenza, Ebola virus infections, Rift Valley fever, pneumonic plague, leptospirosis, anthrax, tuberculosis, trypanosomiasis, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is of major public health concern. This is an indication that new measures are needed to urgently contain the risk posed by these diseases. Some of these diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis and plague occurred frequently in the sub-region. Most recent examples include discovery of highly pathogenic Old World arenavirus (Lujo virus) following air transport of a fatally ill patient from Zambia to South Africa. There has also been geographic expansion of Zaire ebolavirus associated with severe and widespread outbreaks of ebola virus diseases in West Africa in 2014. Furthermore, numerous outbreaks of arthropodborne viral infections including large outbreaks of Rift Valley fever in humans and livestock in South and East Africa, and dengue outbreaks in Angola, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique have been reported. The occurrence of these diseases has high health and socio-economic impacts, and pose serious bio-safety and bio-security challenges. The University of Zambia (UNZA) with financing from the World Bank is establishing an African Centre of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic diseases (ACEEZD) to address some of these challenges, The University and its collaborating institutions have well established laboratories in molecular biology, genomics and a BSL-3 laboratory. The institution also has state of the art equipment to support training and research on infectious diseases. The centre will acquire additional laboratory equipment that can support high quality training and research on NTDs. Already UNZA has an existing Centre for Information and Communication Technology (CICT) that oversees ICT issues in the University. The proposed ACE will strengthen the ICT infrastructure and expand the computer laboratories to accommodate larger student numbers.