WHO launches ‘CoViNet’ — a global laboratory to monitor emerging coronaviruses

Subject: Science and tech

Section : Health

CoViNet:

Launched by the World Health Organization (WHO).
It is a global network of laboratories aimed at identifying and monitoring emerging coronaviruses that may pose future threats, expanding beyond just SARS-CoV-2 to include other coronaviruses like MERS-CoV.
It consists of 36 laboratories from 21 countries across all WHO regions.
This initiative builds upon WHO’s previous efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and intends to bolster laboratory capacities worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, for the surveillance of MERS-CoV and other significant coronaviruses.
CoViNet is designed to enhance animal health and environmental monitoring, perform timely risk assessments, and inform WHO policies and protective actions.
The network’s action plan for 2024-2025 was established during a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, indicating a coordinated global response to the threats posed by novel coronaviruses.
This includes guiding the WHO’s Technical Advisory Groups on viral evolution and vaccine composition against SARS-CoV-2 mutations and variants.
‘Disease X’ is a term used by WHO for a hypothetical, unforeseen disease of significant impact, likely a zoonotic RNA virus.

Source: DTE