Protecting Communities from Biological Risks: WHO Issues Updated Guidance for Laboratories

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued updated guidance for national authorities and biomedical laboratories to effectively manage biological risks. Laboratories play a crucial role in health systems, performing tasks such as patient diagnosis, disease surveillance, and research for treatments and vaccines. To ensure the safety of both the workforce and the community, laboratories need to be properly designed and equipped, staff must be trained, and risk mitigating measures must be evidence-based and transparent.

The updated guidance from WHO includes enhancements in cybersecurity measures, handling confidential information, reducing risks from new technologies like genetic modification, manipulation of pathogens, and artificial intelligence. It also provides advice on maintaining laboratory safety during emergencies such as wars, civil unrest, and natural disasters. This guidance is especially important for countries lacking regulations, helping them establish or strengthen frameworks for handling high-consequence pathogens.

To promote strong institutional governance through an Institutional Biosafety Committee with national oversight, the guidance emphasizes best practices and recommendations to help Member States adopt a risk-based approach as outlined in the resolution on ‘Strengthening laboratory biological risk management’ adopted at the World Health Assembly. The guidance was developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders including WHO collaborating centres and technical advisory groups like TAG-B.

By encouraging engagement and commitment from institutions and national authorities, this updated guidance aims to mitigate risks associated with high-consequence pathogens and research work. These measures are designed to protect communities from the misuse or accidental release of biological materials while still allowing legitimate biomedical research to continue safely.