Surveillance of enteric diseases at the centre of discussions in Abidjan

Stakeholders from 10 Pasteur Network members across Africa (Algeria, Cameroon, CAR, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Tunisia and Madagascar) are taking part in two days of meetings （14-15 April 2025） on the surveillance of infectious diseases in Africa and more specifically enteric diseases.

Enteric diseases are diseases caused by micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and parasites that cause intestinal illness. These diseases are most often caused by the consumption of contaminated food or water. The work being done in Abidjan on a major issue for the continent is also an opportunity to share experience on wastewater monitoring. Such monitoring has been used for decades to detect and track the spread of pathogens. A number of officials from Cameroon’s Centre Pasteur will be present.

The CPC has its own Hygiene and Environment Laboratory. The laboratory’s microbiology section carries out a large number of water and food analyses on a daily basis. Its database is a valuable source of information for an overview of the enteric disease situation in Africa.