From February 9–13, 2026, the Virology Unit at the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) hosted a five-day training on novel environmental air sampling and genomic sequencing, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation under the Asia Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Asia PGI).

The training was designed for a broad group of national partners, 35 participants in total, including colleagues from the National Animal Health and Production Research Institute (NAHPRI), the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), the Cambodia Centers for Disease Control (CCDC), the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), provincial Offices of Animal Health and Production (OAHPs), and partners under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), reflecting strong cross-sector collaboration between IPC and national animal and public health authorities in Cambodia.

Over five days, participants combined classroom learning with field deployment of novel air sampling technologies in live bird markets, followed by hands-on laboratory work in extraction, PCR, Nanopore sequencing, and data analysis for avian influenza and metagenomics.

Environmental sampling allows viruses to be detected directly in high-risk settings, including in the air, making surveillance faster, more cost-effective, and more comprehensive. When paired with rapid genomic sequencing, results can move from field to actionable data in days, not weeks.

IPC remains committed to building sustainable capacity in Cambodia, across ASEAN, and globally by strengthening practical, locally-led One Health surveillance systems that are ready before the next outbreak begins.