Working Safely with African Swine Fever Virus

Area of Science:

• Biosafety and Laboratory Management
• Microbiology and Virology

Background:

• Risk assessment is fundamental for safe laboratory practices involving biological agents.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) Laboratory Biosafety Manual provides comprehensive guidance on risk assessment procedures.
• A strong safety culture requires all laboratory personnel to understand and participate in risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illustrate the application of WHO risk assessment principles to specific biological agents.
• To provide a practical example of risk assessment for handling African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV).

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the stepwise guidance from the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual.
• Applying risk assessment principles to a specific activity: passage of low titer ASFV in cell culture.
• Considering additional techniques and protocols relevant to ASFV handling.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a systematic approach to risk assessment for ASFV.
• Highlighted the applicability of WHO guidance across different laboratory roles.
• Identified key considerations for safe ASFV manipulation.

Conclusions:

• The WHO risk assessment framework is adaptable and essential for safe work with ASFV.
• Training all laboratory personnel in risk assessment promotes a robust safety culture.
• Effective risk mitigation strategies are crucial for handling ASFV and similar pathogens.