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The Second Year of Life project of the Global Health Security Agenda aims to improve immunization systems and strengthen measles and rubella surveillance, including building laboratory capacity. A new laboratory assessment tool was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assess the national laboratory in Ghana to improve molecular surveillance for measles and rubella. Results for the tool showed that the laboratory is well organized, has a good capacity for handling specimens, has a good biosafety system, and is proficient for diagnosis of measles and rubella by serologic analysis. However, there was little knowledge about molecular biology and virology activities (i.e., virus isolation on tissue culture was not available). Recommendations included training of technical personnel for molecular techniques and advocacy for funding for laboratory equipment, reagents, and supplies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A next-generation sequencing training program was implemented at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), Ghana. • During on-site training at NMIMR, enterovirus isolates from six AFP cases were sequenced. • Sequenced enteroviruses included three echovirus types and a rarely reported enterovirus type (EV-B84). • Adoption of next-generation sequencing methods worldwide holds promise for improved outbreak response and surveillance of viral pathogens. To demonstrate the feasibility of applying next-generation sequencing (NGS) in medium-resource reference laboratories in Africa to enhance global disease surveillance. A training program was developed to support implementation of NGS at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana. The program was divided into two training stages, first at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA, followed by on-site training at NMIMR for a larger cohort of scientists. Self-assessment scores for topics covered during the NGS training program were higher post-training relative to pre-training. During the NGS Training II session at NMIMR, six enterovirus isolates from acute flaccid paralysis cases in Ghana were successfully sequenced by trainees, including two echovirus 6, two echovirus 11 and one echovirus 13. Another genome was an uncommon type (EV-B84), which has not been reported in Africa since its initial discovery from a Côte d'Ivoire specimen in 2003. The success at NMIMR provides an example of how to approach transferring of NGS methods to international laboratories. There is great opportunity for collaboration between institutes that have genomics expertise to ensure effectiveness and long-term success of global NGS capacity building programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]