International Certification on Infectious Substances shipping strengthens Mexico’s preparedness and response to mass gathering events and public health threats

Mexico City, May 15, 2026 (PAHO) - As part of regional efforts to prepare for and respond to health emergencies and mass gathering events, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), through the Infectious Harzard Management Unit (IHM),Health Emergencies Department (PHE), conducted two specialized trainings from May 12 to 15, 2026, for WHO/IATA international certification on Safe Transport of Infectious Substances.

The event was held at the facilities of the Institute of Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference (InDRE), WHO Collaborating Center for Laboratory Biosafety, in coordination with the Mexican Ministry of Health, and brought together 48 professionals from the General Directorate of Epidemiology (DGE), InDRE, State Public Health Laboratories, the Service for the National Health for Food Safety and Food Quality (SENASICA), the Mexico-United States Commission for the Prevention of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, and the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS).

The training took place within a strategic context for the region, linked to capacity building in preparation for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Large-scale international mass gathering events pose a significant challenge to public health systems due to increased population mobility and the potential risk of introducing and spreading infectious diseases. In this context, it is essential to strengthen national capacities to ensure the safe and timely transport of infectious biological samples for diagnostic, and genomic surveillance purposes.

"Preparedness for mass events and public health emergencies requires resilient laboratory systems that are ready to respond to pathogens with pandemic or epidemic potential. This includes having certified and highly trained personnel to ensure the safe and timely transport of infectious biological samples. These capabilities are essential to support surveillance and rapid response to public health threats," noted Dr. Juliana Leite, a PAHO laboratory specialist.

For his part, Dr. José Cruz Bugarín González, Director of Integral Management and Technical Support at InDRE, noted that "technical excellence is the result of discipline and ongoing commitment. This international certification strengthens the biosafety capabilities and scientific rigor of the State Public Health Laboratories, InDRE, IMSS, and SENASICA." He also emphasized that the safe transport of infectious substances is an essential component for ensuring reliable diagnoses, strengthening epidemiological surveillance, and consolidating Mexico as a regional leader in biosafety under international IATA/WHO standards.

During the training, participants received updated technical materials, including the WHO Guidelines on the Regulation for the Transport of Infectious Substances 2025-2026 and the Operational Manual for the Safe Transport of Infectious Substances developed by PAHO. In addition, the certified professionals will be added to the WHO e-ISST electronic platform for future recertification processes, thereby strengthening the sustainability of the skills acquired.

Daniel José Regalado Santiago, coordinator of the WHO Collaborating Center for Laboratory Biosafety, emphasized that having certified professionals from InDRE and the National Public Health Laboratories Network strengthens institutional biosafety and biosecurity capacities, enabling the country to respond safely and efficiently to health emergencies and events with high population density, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This initiative is part of PAHO's regional efforts to strengthen the capacities established in the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), promoting laboratory networks that are safer, more resilient, and better prepared to respond to emerging health threats and events of international concern in the Region of the Americas.