title: Laboratory Response to 2014 Ebola Virus Outbreak in Mali.
abstract: Aware of the rapid spread of Ebola virus (EBOV) during the current West African epidemic, Mali took several proactive steps to rapidly identify cases within its borders. Under the Mali International Center for Excellence in Research program, a collaboration between the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Malian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research established a national EBOV diagnostic site at the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako in the SEREFO Laboratory. Two separate introductions of EBOV occurred in Mali from neighboring Guinea, but both chains of transmission were quickly halted, and Mali was declared "Ebola free" on 18 January 2015 and has remained so since. The SEREFO Laboratory was instrumental in the success of Mali's Ebola response by providing timely and accurate diagnostics. As of today, the SEREFO Laboratory has tested 103 samples from 88 suspected cases, 10 of which were EBOV positive, since the Ebola diagnostics unit started in April 2014. The establishment of Ebola diagnostics in the SEREFO Laboratory, safety precautions, and diagnostics are described.
authors.affiliation: SEREFO Laboratory, University Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali.
authors.forename: Bassirou
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Diarra
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Safronetz
authors.affiliation: SEREFO Laboratory, University Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali.
authors.forename: Yeya Dit Sadio
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Sarro
authors.affiliation: SEREFO Laboratory, University Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali.
authors.forename: Amadou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kone
authors.affiliation: SEREFO Laboratory, University Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali.
authors.forename: Moumine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanogo
authors.affiliation: SEREFO Laboratory, University Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali.
authors.forename: Sady
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tounkara
authors.affiliation: SEREFO Laboratory, University Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali.
authors.forename: Antieme C G
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Togo
authors.affiliation: SEREFO Laboratory, University Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali.
authors.forename: Fatoumata
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Daou
authors.affiliation: SEREFO Laboratory, University Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali.
authors.forename: Almoustapha I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Maiga
authors.affiliation: SEREFO Laboratory, University Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali.
authors.forename: Sounkalo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology.
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rosenke
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology.
authors.forename: Darryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Falzarano
authors.affiliation: SEREFO Laboratory, University Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali.
authors.forename: Seydou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doumbia
authors.affiliation: Cytokine Biology Section, Division of Intramural Research.
authors.forename: Kathryn C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Zoon
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polis
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.affiliation: Centre des Operations d'Urgence (Malian Center for Emergency Operations), Centre National d'Appui a la lutte contre la Maladie (Malian Center for Disease Control), Ministry of Health, Bamako, Mali.
authors.forename: Samba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sow
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana.
authors.forename: Tom G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Schwan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feldmann
authors.affiliation: SEREFO Laboratory, University Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali.
authors.forename: Souleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.affiliation: SEREFO Laboratory, University Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali.
authors.forename: Ousmane A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Koita
mesh_terms: D064790:Clinical Laboratory Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016701:Guinea; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008302:Mali / Q000453:epidemiology; D013048:Specimen Handling
keywords: Ebola virus; Mali; West Africa; diagnostics; epidemic