$USD1 Million worth research laboratory for infectious diseases
officially opens yesterday, January, 21, 2016 in northern Sierra Leone.
The infectious disease research laboratory was recently
established in collaboration with scientists from the University of Cambridge
and supported by funding from the Wellcome Trust, as part of an effort to build
capacity in the area of infectious disease research and surveillance.
According
to a statement on the Univeristy of Makeni, the laboratory will allow
for fast detection and diagnosis of Ebola.The statement further
revealed that the team of local scientists employed by UNIMAK, have been able
to obtain the Ebola virus sequence in less than 48 hours from the time the
sample arrived at the laboratory, a development that will aid control and spread
of Ebola.
Professor Ian Goodfellow, one of the international scientists
providing support said, “This is a
fantastic achievement. A turnaround of 48 hours is extremely difficult to
achieve, anywhere in the world. The ability of local scientists to undertake
work of this nature is critical for the prevention and control of any such
future outbreaks.”
Source: Sierraloaded
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