The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new network for coronavirus called CoViNet (Coronavirus Network) to facilitate, connect, and coordinate global expertise and capacities for early and accurate detection, monitoring, and assessment of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus), MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus), and novel coronaviruses. In this connection, representatives of 36 laboratories gathered in Geneva in March 2024 to finalise the action plan for 2024–25 and assess a range of issues related to the spread and severity of Covid. These laboratories will also have expertise in animal health and environmental surveillance.
About CoViNet
CoViNet is an expansion of the reference laboratory network established by the WHO during the initial days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists at the WHO focused on SARS-CoV-2 initially as it was the cause of Coronavirus. However, the network now aims to address a broader range of coronaviruses including MERS-CoV and other new mutations. Currently, this network includes 36 laboratories from 21 countries including three Indian laboratories—(i) The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research—National Environmental Engineering Research Institute; (ii) the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology in Pune; and (iii) the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute.
The first reference laboratory network was SARS-CoV-2, established in January 2020 by the WHO. Since then, the requirement of a network to monitor the COVID-19 virus, the spread of its variants, and the assessment of its impact was being pressingly felt. So, to address this requirement, the WHO formed this new network (CoViNet) even after years of the outburst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Objectives of CoViNet
Some objectives of CoViNet are as follows:
- Early and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and novel coronaviruses of public health importance
- The need for a ‘One Health’ approach—surveillance, monitoring, and circulation of the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and novel coronaviruses
- Timely assessment for SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and novel coronaviruses to inform the WHO of the policy-related range of public health and medical countermeasures.
- Support for capacity building of laboratories relevant to the needs of the WHO especially those in the low- and middle-income countries for SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and novel coronaviruses.
Significance of the Network
The sudden outbreak of the coronavirus did not give enough time to produce efficient vaccines and treatment for limiting the spread of the virus or reducing the symptoms and its impact on people’s health. So, CoViNet has brought together experts from around the globe in human, animal, and environmental health to create a comprehensive One Health approach to monitor and assess the evolution and spread of coronavirus. This network is expected to improve surveillance, laboratory capacity, sequencing, and data integration.
This network would also help in the timely detection of different varieties of coronaviruses, their monitoring, and assessment. It would help in developing vaccines for the existing and new variants of coronavirus. The RNA genome of the coronavirus allows it to frequently mutate and form new varieties, many of which are resistant to existing medicines. All this highlights the need to have an integrated international network to allow various countries to cooperate and coordinate their information and research.
Conclusion
To conclude, this network would help in timely identification, assessment, and cooperation to collectively fight against coronaviruses which resulted in pandemic around the world. It is at these times that the research on such areas as well the importance of an integrated collaboration to study, assess, and develop vaccines is realised.
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