Building Capacity, Strengthening Partnerships, and Advancing Foodborne Disease Surveillance Across the Continent
As we begin 2026, PulseNet Africa (PNA) reflects on a year of remarkable growth, collaboration, and achievement in 2025. From launching ambitious feasibility studies across eight countries to publishing valuable research and forging new international partnerships, 2025 was a transformative year for our network.
Expanding Our Network
New Partnerships
We welcomed two new partnering institutions to the PulseNet Africa network in 2025:
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Ghana – A leading African research institution with expertise in infectious disease research and public health
- Institut National de Santé Publique (INSP), Mali – Strengthening our presence in West Africa and expanding regional surveillance capacity
These partnerships enhanced our continental reach and brought valuable expertise to our growing network of public health laboratories and research institutions.
Feasibility Studies: Putting Surveillance into Practice
A major milestone in 2025 was the launch of our feasibility studies across six African countries, each focusing on strengthening national foodborne disease surveillance systems through genomic approaches:
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Ethiopia
- The Gambia
- Uganda
- Mozambique
- Malawi
These studies represent PNA’s commitment to practical, country-led implementation of genomic surveillance. Through these initiatives, we aim to build local capacity, generate evidence for sustainable surveillance systems, and create models that can be adapted across the continent.
Research Publications
Vibrio cholerae Genomic Surveillance
On 10 December 2025, PulseNet Africa achieved a significant research milestone with the publication of our collaborative study on Vibrio cholerae genomic surveillance in Microbial Genomics.
Publication: “Genomic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Vibrio cholerae isolates from Africa: a PulseNet Africa initiative using nanopore sequencing to enhance genomic surveillance”
This research demonstrated the power of genomic surveillance in tracking cholera across multiple African countries and provided critical insights into antimicrobial resistance patterns that affect treatment options. The study exemplified the collaborative, cross-border approach that defines PulseNet Africa’s work. The journal Microbial Genomics issued a press release highlighting the publication, amplifying the research’s reach and impact.
Publications from PulseNet Africa Member Institutions
The network celebrated additional research contributions from member institutions in 2025, showcasing the breadth of expertise within PNA:
Invasive Non-Typhoidal Salmonella in Uganda
Published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (June 2025), Makerere University researchers identified 18 Salmonella serotypes with alarming resistance patterns: 81.3% showed resistance to at least one antibiotic, and 81.5% of resistant isolates were multi-drug resistant—highlighting urgent treatment challenges.
Authors: John Bosco Kalule, Valeria Nakintu Zalwango, Pauline Kyazike, Samuel Majalija
Environmental and Climatic Influences on Typhoid in Kampala
Makerere University researchers published in PLOS Global Public Health (April 2025) demonstrating positive correlation between rainfall and severe typhoid cases with consistent seasonal peaks. The study revealed that underground water sources pose moderate to severe disease risk, underscoring the need for improved water quality surveillance.
Authors: John Bosco Kalule, Nakintu Zalwango Valeria, Majalija Samuel
Vibrio cholerae Stress Adaptation and Evolution
Researchers from the University of Ghana published work in Microbiology Spectrum (February 2025) providing crucial insights into cholera persistence between outbreaks—critical for understanding disease transmission patterns.
Authors: Nana Eghele Adade, Stephen Dela Ahator, Inmaculada García-Romero, Macarena Algarañás, Vincent Appiah, Miguel A. Valvano, Samuel Duodu
Strengthening Governance and Leadership
Steering Committee Meetings
2025 saw the launch of regular PulseNet Africa Steering Committee meetings, providing strategic oversight and direction for the network. These meetings ensured that PNA activities were aligned with member country needs and international best practices in foodborne disease surveillance.
Global Engagement: PNA on the International Stage
PulseNet International Steering Committee Meeting – Melbourne, Australia
8-10 September 2025 | GMI-15 Conference
PNA participated in the joint PulseNet International Steering Committee meeting in Melbourne, hosted by the Centre for Pathogen Genomics. This historic gathering brought together members from PulseNet Africa and PulseNet Asia Pacific (PNAP), fostering collaboration between the two regional networks.
Key outcomes included:
- Joint grant application opportunities to support cross-regional surveillance initiatives
- Knowledge exchange on computational and bioinformatics solutions, including potential adoption of “PulseTrakka” for international foodborne disease surveillance
- Publication strategy for feasibility studies as a collection, showcasing African-led genomic surveillance research
- Workshop on analysis, reporting and communication to enhance translation of surveillance data into public health action
- Learning from international examples of translating antimicrobial resistance data into action from the US, PNAP, and PNA
The meeting represented approximately 15 feasibility study projects across both networks and highlighted the growing global movement towards genomic-based foodborne disease surveillance.
Additional International Symposia and Meetings
PulseNet Africa members actively represented the network at major international conferences throughout 2025:
Public Health Alliance for Genomic Epidemiology (PHA4GE) Conference – October 2025
PNA contributed to global discussions on standardising genomic data for public health, data sharing practices, and building capacity in low- and middle-income countries.
XIV International Meeting on Microbial Epidemiological Markers (IMMEM XIV) – September 2025, Porto
Network members presented research on genomic epidemiology and participated in sessions on infectious disease surveillance and antimicrobial resistance.
Applied Bioinformatics and Public Health Microbiology Conference (ABPHM) – May 2025
PNA showcased the network’s role in strengthening pandemic preparedness through enhanced surveillance systems across Africa.
Building Tools and Resources
Symposium on Costing Tool for Genomic Surveillance – March 2025
PNA organised a dedicated symposium on 20th March 2025, focused on developing costing tools for implementing genomic surveillance systems. This initiative addressed a critical need for evidence-based resource planning and provided member countries with practical tools for building sustainable surveillance programmes.
Website Launch
In January 2025, PulseNet Africa launched its official website and LinkedIn account, providing a central hub for network information, resources, and communications. The website serves as a platform for sharing surveillance data, training materials, and highlighting the work of member countries.
Looking Ahead: Exciting Times for PulseNet Africa
Building on the achievements of 2025, PulseNet Africa is poised for continued growth in the coming years. Exciting developments are on the horizon for PulseNet Africa. The coming years will see us complete our first cohort of feasibility studies and develop a comprehensive five-year strategic plan to guide our growth.
Central to our vision is strengthening collaborations with Africa CDC and key partners including the Disease Control Priorities initiative and the Pandemic Genomics Initiative, working towards coordinated continental surveillance. We are also deepening our ties with sister networks, particularly PulseNet Asia Pacific, for enhanced data sharing and joint research initiatives.
A key priority is establishing a dedicated PNA secretariat to support network operations, alongside efforts to significantly enhance our visibility and demonstrate the public health impact of genomic surveillance across Africa. Through strategic partnerships, capacity building, and sustained commitment to excellence, PulseNet Africa is poised to play an increasingly vital role in protecting the health of African populations and contributing to global health security.