WHO Collaborating Centre (WHO-CC) for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research

• Early identification of outbreaks of emerging and dangerous pathogens

   In order to detect emerging and a broad range of pathogens, multiple high throughput and broad ranging protocols are in development. These include broad spectrum neutralization techniques, broad spectrum PCR approaches and fieldable sequencing of pathogens from humans, animals and vectors. Two new studies allowing collection of materials either from vaccinated patients, or patients with rare or emerging viral infections will address the lack of material for diagnostic test development and evaluation.

• Support outbreak response operations of emerging and dangerous pathogens.

  During response operations to outbreaks of emerging and dangerous pathogens coordinated by WHO, we provide, if necessary and possible, onsite laboratory diagnostic support with staff and equipment when possible.

• Support the development of WHO recommendations and guidelines in the context of outbreaks of Emerging and Dangerous Pathogens.

  We contribute with expert opinions and support the development, review and editing of specialised or generic WHO recommendations, fact sheets and guidelines documents related to merging and dangerous pathogens. Examples include the new WHO yellow fever virus laboratory manual (under development, 2021), the development of a target product profile (TPP) for yellow fever virus and SARS-CoV-2, the Interim guidance and handbook on genomic sequencing of SARSCoV-2 etc.

• Contribute in relevant WHO technical consultations on emerging and dangerous pathogens and contribute with training national and regional collaborating laboratories concerning diagnostic, scientific, medical and epidemiological activities.

  As a designated SARS-CoV-2 reference laboratory, both nationally and internationally we have contributed with training, consultation, data and advice to collaborating laboratories concerning diagnostic, scientific, medical and epidemiological activities.
  
  

• Research on emerging pathogens

• Diagnostic preparedness

• Risk based innovative One Health surveillance

• Genotype to phenotype translation

• Assessing key traits of:

  • Transmissibility
  • Clinical profile and severity
  • Immune responses in reservoir hosts and humans
  • Translation of findings into integrated public health advise
    
     

Examples of our main achievements and activities include: 

• Constant monitoring of Usutu and West Nile virus
• Diagnostics and public health response involvement for imported Lassa virus cases 
• Diagnostics of an imported yellow fever patient  
• Investigation of rabies cases in Qatar 
• Support in investigations of Zika virus in Surinam and Brazil; 
• The operation of mobile laboratories during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa; 
• The contributions to identify the cause of MERS coronavirus and involvement in the studies unravelling the role of camels as source; 

During the SARS-CoV-2:

• We were in lead for multitude of studies including several diagnostic test evaluations for various populations, investigation of outbreaks in nursing homes, hospitals and mink farms, sequencing and molecular epidemiology, vaccine and immune response studies and in the development of animal models to investigate transmission.
• As a designated WHO SARS-CoV-2 reference centre we were responsible for diagnostics and advise, established two XL testing sites in Rotterdam and trained personnel. We did all this in close collaboration with Rotterdam Rijnmond Public health Service.  
  
   
  
  
  You can find a listing of publications at Key Publications

• The next phase of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance: real-time molecular epidemiology. Oude Munnink BB, Worp N, Nieuwenhuijse DF, Sikkema RS, Haagmans B, Fouchier RAM, Koopmans M. Nat Med. 2021 Sep;27(9):1518-1524. doi: 10.1038/s41591-021-01472-w. Epub 2021 Sep 9.
• Occupational and environmental exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in and around infected mink farms. de Rooij MMT, Hakze-Van der Honing RW, Hulst MM, Harders F, Engelsma M, van de Hoef W, Meliefste K, Nieuwenweg S, Oude Munnink BB, van Schothorst I, Sikkema RS, van der Spek AN, Spierenburg M, Spithoven J, Bouwstra R, Molenaar RJ, Koopmans M, Stegeman A, van der Poel WHM, Smit LAM. Occup Environ Med. 2021 Jul 30:oemed-2021-107443. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2021-107443. Online ahead of print.
• Animal models of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. de Vries RD, Rockx B, Haagmans BL, Herfst S, Koopmans MP, de Swart RL. Curr Opin Virol. 2021 Jun 29;50:8-16. doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2021.06.007. Online ahead of print.
  Origins of SARS-CoV-2: window is closing for key scientific studies.Koopmans M, Daszak P, Dedkov VG, Dwyer DE, Farag E, Fischer TK, Hayman DTS, Leendertz F, Maeda K, Nguyen-Viet H, Watson J. Nature. 2021 Aug;596(7873):482-485. doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02263-6.
• Diagnostic accuracy of rapid antigen tests in asymptomatic and presymptomatic close contacts of individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection: cross sectional study. Schuit E, Veldhuijzen IK, Venekamp RP, van den Bijllaardt W, Pas SD, Lodder EB, Molenkamp R, GeurtsvanKessel CH, Velzing J, Huisman RC, Brouwer L, Boelsums TL, Sips GJ, Benschop KSM, Hooft L, van de Wijgert JHHM, van den Hof S, Moons KGM. BMJ. 2021 Jul 27;374:n1676. doi: 10.1136/bmj.n1676.
• Clinical Evaluation of Roche SD Biosensor Rapid Antigen Test for SARS-CoV-2 in Municipal Health Service Testing Site, the Netherlands. Igloi Z, Velzing J, van Beek J, van de Vijver D, Aron G, Ensing R, Benschop K, Han W, Boelsums T, Koopmans M, Geurtsvankessel C, Molenkamp R. Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 May;27(5):1323-1329. doi: 10.3201/eid2705.204688. Epub 2021 Mar 16.
• Genomic monitoring to understand the emergence and spread of Usutu virus in the Netherlands, 2016-2018. Oude Munnink BB, Münger E, Nieuwenhuijse DF, Kohl R, van der Linden A, Schapendonk CME, van der Jeugd H, Kik M, Rijks JM, Reusken CBEM, Koopmans M. Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 18;10(1):2798. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59692-y.
• COVID-19 in health-care workers in three hospitals in the south of the Netherlands: a cross-sectional study. Sikkema RS, Pas SD, Nieuwenhuijse DF, O'Toole Á, Verweij J, van der Linden A, Chestakova I, Schapendonk C, Pronk M, Lexmond P, Bestebroer T, Overmars RJ, van Nieuwkoop S, van den Bijllaardt W, Bentvelsen RG, van Rijen MML, Buiting AGM, van Oudheusden AJG, Diederen BM, Bergmans AMC, van der Eijk A, Molenkamp R, Rambaut A, Timen A, Kluytmans JAJW, Oude Munnink BB, Kluytmans van den Bergh MFQ, Koopmans MPG.
• Detection of West Nile virus in a common whitethroat (Curruca communis) and Culex mosquitoes in the Netherlands, 2020. Sikkema RS, Schrama M, van den Berg T, Morren J, Munger E, Krol L, van der Beek JG, Blom R, Chestakova I, van der Linden A, Boter M, van Mastrigt T, Molenkamp R, Koenraadt CJ, van den Brand JM, Oude Munnink BB, Koopmans MP, van der Jeugd H. Euro Surveill. 2020 Oct;25(40):2001704. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.40.2001704.
• An evaluation of COVID-19 serological assays informs future diagnostics and exposure assessment. GeurtsvanKessel CH, Okba NMA, Igloi Z, Bogers S, Embregts CWE, Laksono BM, Leijten L, Rokx C, Rijnders B, Rahamat-Langendoen J, van den Akker JPC, van Kampen JJA, van der Eijk AA, van Binnendijk RS, Haagmans B, Koopmans M.
• First molecular analysis of rabies virus in Qatar and clinical cases imported into Qatar, a case report. Oude Munnink BB, Farag EABA, GeurtsvanKessel C, Schapendonk C, van der Linden A, Kohl R, Arron G, Ziglam H, Goravey WGM, Coyle PV, Ibrahim I, Mohran KA, Alrajhi MMS, Islam MM, Abdeen R, Al-Zeyara AAMAH, Younis NM, Al-Romaihi HE, Thani MHJA, Molenkamp R, Sikkema RS, Koopmans M. Int J Infect Dis. 2020 Jul;96:323-326. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.04.070. Epub 2020 May 4.
• MERS-CoV in Camels but Not Camel Handlers, Sudan, 2015 and 2017. Farag E, Sikkema RS, Mohamedani AA, de Bruin E, Munnink BBO, Chandler F, Kohl R, van der Linden A, Okba NMA, Haagmans BL, van den Brand JMA, Elhaj AM, Abakar AD, Nour BYM, Mohamed AM, Alwaseela BE, Ahmed H, Alhajri MM, Koopmans M, Reusken C, Elrahman SHA. Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 Dec;25(12):2333-2335. doi: 10.3201/eid2512.190882.
• Comparative pathogenesis of COVID-19, MERS, and SARS in a nonhuman primate model. 
  Barry Rockx, Thijs Kuiken, Sander Herfst, Theo Bestebroer, Mart M Lamers, Bas B Oude Munnink, Dennis de Meulder, Geert van Amerongen, Judith van den Brand, Nisreen M A Okba, Debby Schipper, Peter van Run, Lonneke Leijten, Reina Sikkema, Ernst Verschoor, Babs Verstrepen, Willy Bogers, Jan Langermans, Christian Drosten, Martje Fentener van Vlissingen, Ron Fouchier, Rik de Swart, Marion Koopmans, Bart L Haagmans
• SARS-CoV-2 productively infects human gut enterocytes
  Mart Lamers, Joep Beumer, Jelte van der Vaart, Kèvin Knoops, Jens Puschhof, Tim Breugem, Raimond B. G. Ravelli, Pual van Schayck, Anna Mykytyn, Hans Q. Duim, Elly van Donselaar, Samra Riesebosch, Helma J.H. Kuijpers, Debby Schipper, Willine J. van de Wetering, Miranda de Graaf, Marion Koopmans, Edwin Cuppen, Peter J. Peters, Bart L. Haagmans,  and Hans Clevers.  
• The possible role of cross-reactive dengue virus antibodies in Zika virus pathogenesis
  Thomas Langerak, Noreen Mumtaz, Vera I Tolk, Eric C M van Gorp, Byron E Martina, Barry Rockx, Marion P G Koopmans
• Zika Virus Seroprevalence in Urban and Rural Areas of Suriname,2017
  Thomas Langerak, Tom Brinkman, Noreen Mumtaz, Georgina Arron, Sandra Hermelijn, Gaitree Baldewsingh, Merril Wongsokarijo, Lesley Resida, Barry Rockx, Marion P G Koopmans, Eric C M Van Gorp, Stephen Vreden
• Sensitive and Specific Detection of Low-Level Antibody Responses in Mild Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infections
  Nisreen M A Okba, V Stalin Raj, Ivy Widjaja, Corine H GeurtsvanKessel, Erwin de Bruin, Felicity D Chandler, Wan Beom Park, Nam-Joong Kim, Elmoubasher A B A Farag, Mohammed Al-Hajri, Berend-Jan Bosch, Myoung-Don Oh, Marion P G Koopmans, Chantal B E M Reusken, Bart L Haagmans
• Rapid response communications
  
  

Collaboration within Erasmus MC:

• Klinische Virologie Erasmus MC
• Paediatric unit (Sophia Kinderziekenhuis)
• Interne geneeskunde/Sector Infectieziekten Erasmus MC

Collaboration outside of Erasmus MC:

• (WHO)- World Health Organization
• (EYE)- Eliminate yellow fever epidemics
• EVD-LabNet- Emerging Viral Diseases-Expert Laboratory Network (europa.eu)
• ECDC- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
• VEO- Versatile emerging infectious disease observatory
• ECRAID- European Clinical Research Alliance on Infectious Diseases 
• SHARP- Strengthened International HeAlth Regulations and Preparedness in the EU 
• PDPC- Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness Center
• GGD- Rotterdam Rijnmond
• RIVM- Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu
• NCOH-Netherlands Centre for One Health

See also the Global database of the WHO Collaborating Centres:
https://apps.who.int/whocc/PortalV9.aspx

Our core team:

• Reina Sikkema
• Janko van Beek

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  Prof. M. (Marion) Koopmans

  Head of the Erasmus MC department of viroscience

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  Prof. R.A.M. (Ron) Fouchier

  Deputy Head of the Erasmus MC department of Viroscience

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  Dr. B.H.G. (Barry) Rockx

  Assistant Professor

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  Dr. C.H. (Corine) Geurts van Kessel

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  Dr. B. L. (Bart) Haagmans

  Associate Professor

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  Dr. B. B. (Bas) Oude Munnink

  Assistant Professor

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  Dr. Zs. (Zsofia) Igloi

  Researcher