Vladimir Dedkov, a scientist at the St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute and a member of the WHO working group on new pathogens, shared with Sputnik Africa the details of the successful trip of Russian specialists from Rospotrebnadzor to the republic to fight infections.
"We took with us kits developed in our institute to diagnose mpox. And we tested them with the help of colleagues from the Republic of Congo. Now we understand that our tests work very well," Dedkov said.
Having similar features with German Altona Diagnostics tests, particularly in terms of specificity, the Russian kits are less expensive, which represents an advantage because it allows for a greater quantity to be supplied, the scientist noted.
"Russia is ready to help in any way possible. We have a lot of experience. The USSR played a significant role in the fight against smallpox, including on the African continent. Vaccines were supplied there, specialists and virologists were sent. And that's how we defeated this infection. Well, if necessary, ‘we can repeat it,’ as we say," Dedkov said.
Moreover, Russian scientists are conducting a major project in the country to study the incidence and structure of intestinal infections, Dedkov revealed.
The goal is to develop, based on the results of the project, a general program for monitoring such infections in order to prevent them, the scientist explained.
In addition, Moscow is helping the African country by providing screening systems and equipment "where they are lacking it," he continued. Indeed, due to the logistical and financial challenges on the continent, African specialists "lack equipment in some places; there is always a problem with consumables and reagents."
"It is interesting for us because we have the opportunity to test our screening systems," said Dedkov.
In general, speaking about cooperation between Russia and Congo in the field of healthcare, Dedkov noted that Russia has a lot to offer Africa in the fight against infectious diseases.
"The list is quite long," he said.
First, there are molecular tests to detect a wide variety of infections, including those caused by the Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, and dengue viruses.
Then, a wide range of vaccines, including those against COVID-19 or Ebola. The vaccine against the mpox virus is being developed at the Russian Gamaleya Research Institute.
"Russia can offer all this to African countries if they want," the scientist concluded.