Tanzania earmarked for mobile disease lab installation

{TANZANIA is one of two countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, picked to coordinate a Mobile Lab to manage outbreaks with viral pathogens from risk group 3 and 4, which includes Ebola, Marburg, Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Rift Valley Fever and Chikungunya.}

In Tanzania, the lab will be stationed at the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) while in Nigeria; it will be stationed at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital.

Addressing delegates in Dar es Salaam, NIMR Director-General Dr Mwele Malecela said the Mobile Lab, which will be inaugurated today at the institute’s offices, is the first of its kind in East and Central Africa, including Tanzania.

When in place, the lab will serve the needs of Tanzania and neighbouring countries of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi on occasion of outbreaks of diseases. “The idea is to have a quick and easy diagnosis out in the field whenever there is an outbreak.

Such lab can be deployed to affected sites. In the past during Ebola outbreaks, samples had to be transported to distance places with dangers of contamination,” she explained. Dr Malecela said a number of Tanzanians have already been prepared to use the Mobile Lab, noting that the training of more people will continue.

“NIMR is just a custodian and will help facilitate use of the Mobile Lab whenever there is an outbreak within the country and outside. We will endeavour to make sure it arrives to areas where there is an outbreak on time,” she explained.

Dr Malecela said Sub- Saharan Africa is an endemic zone for viral pathogens from risk group 3 and 4 mentioned above and increase in outbreaks of these pathogens is due to growing human populations and associated pressures.

The European Commission set up a collaborative project through the European Mobile Laboratory Project (EMLab) entitled ‘establishment of Mobile Laboratories for Pathogens up to Risk Group 4 in Combination with CBRN Capacity Building in Sub-Saharan Africa’.

The objective of the EMLab is to establish mobile laboratory units for investigation of outbreaks where local health services do not have the expertise and facilities to confirm and manage the epidemic as well as to form a collaborative network involving European and African Institutions able to operate such units in the field.

The current capacity of the equipment is the molecular diagnosis of viral pathogens of risk groups 3 and 4 but it can be extended to other viruses and also bacteria, like ‘bacillus anthracis, vibrio cholerae or yersinia pests — if needed in an epidemic situation.

SOURCE:DAILY NEWS:[Tanzania earmarked for mobile disease lab installation->http://dailynews.co.tz/index.php/home-news/44879-tanzania-earmarked-for-mobile-disease-lab-installation]