BICOLLAB II is a bilateral laboratory collaboration with Indonesia (laboratory strengthening through twinning) project with the Animal Disease Investigation Centre Wates (DIC Wates), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Indonesia. Phase One was funded through the Health Security Initiative, the predecessor of the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative. DIC Wates plays a key role in the genetic and antigenic characterisation of viruses from avian influenza outbreaks across the different provinces, important for tracking virus evolution and reassortments and for assessing the efficacies of nationally licensed poultry vaccines. The project will continue to build DIC Wates’ capacity to collect, analyse and use surveillance data for policy, planning and response for avian influenza. These skills will also be used to build laboratory capacities for the control of zoonotic avian and swine influenzas, alongside emerging infectious disease threats including lumpy skin disease (LSD) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
