AMN
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pawar inaugurated South Asia’s first Biosafety level-3 containment Mobile Laboratory in Maharashtra’s Nashik district. The mobile laboratory has been set up to investigate newly emerging and re-emerging viral infections that are highly infectious and of lethal potential to human beings.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pawar said that the Biosafety level-3 Mobile Laboratory is a significant value addition to strengthen healthcare infrastructure through the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. She added that the lab will help in real-time data collection that will ensure quick containment and prevention of any emerging viral infections.
The laboratory has been designed and built by Indian Council of Medical Research in collaboration with Mumbai-based bio-safety equipment maker Klenzaids. Built at a cost of about 25 crore rupees, the Laboratory is a self-sufficient unit for full standalone operation.
Terming the launch as historic, Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research, Dr. Balram Bhargava recalled that the need for a mobile lab was felt during the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala. when samples had to be transported to National Institute of Virology in Pune. He said that such mobile labs can be stationed in different regions of the country and mobilized in case of sudden outbreaks.
The laboratory, which can be simply driven around like a normal bus, will provide access to remote and forested areas of the country where specially trained scientists from ICMR can investigate outbreaks using samples from humans and animal sources. These activities will ensure timely and on-site diagnosis with rapid turnaround time.