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MEDICAL: DISEASES: EBOLA VIRUS :
AFRICA :
COUNTRIES: UNITED STATES :
RESEARCH:
The Fight on Ebola Continues in the Lab
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The Fight on Ebola Continues in the Lab
Carol Han
Tuesday, October 7th 2014
USAID
http://blog.usaid.gov/2014/10/
the-fight-on-ebola-continues-in-the-lab/
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A shorter URL for the above link:
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http://tinyurl.com/nfpotv7
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In a heavily forested area about 65 miles east of Monrovia, Liberia,
statues of stone monkeys keep vigil over a sprawling campus of buildings
that has seen better days. The Liberian Institute for Biomedical Research
(LIBR) was established in the 1970s as a premier research facility to
develop scientific breakthroughs for a variety of viral infections,
including hepatitis. The rusted, empty animal cages serve as a reminder of
the past research conducted here.
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Now, the facility finds itself drawn into an epidemiological battle
against another outbreak, this time, the Ebola virus. LIBR is one of only
a few laboratories in Liberia where Ebola specimens are sent to be tested.
Due to the spiralling number of Ebola cases in the region, boosting LIBRs
laboratory testing capacity has been a top priority for a team of medical
and disaster experts with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious
Diseases (USAMRIID), the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID).
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People are dependent on these test results, said Gary Wes Carter, an
emergency management chief with USAMRIID. The longer a sample sits here,
the longer a doctor in the field goes without an answer needed to make
critical decisions about patient care.
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Since April, American laboratory and disease control experts have been
working at LIBR to process Ebola samples and train local technicians. When
the rate of Ebola infections spiked in June, more equipment and personnel
were brought in. As a result, LIBRs lab processing capacity almost doubled
from 40 specimens a day to more than 70. The goal is to eventually be able
to test approximately 100 specimens a day, with assistance from the
USAID-led Ebola Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and the USAID
Mission in Liberia.
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USAIDs disaster response and development experts are working to upgrade
the laboratory facility by improving specimen containment, providing
improved internet access, renovating hygiene facilities, repairing
plumbing, and working with contractors to rewire the building so that it
receives a steady source of electricity.
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There are a number of projects underway, said DART Logistics Officer
Sergio Solis. Working together, we could make LIBR not only more
efficient, but more sustainable for the Liberian scientists and laboratory
technicians who will be running the facility.
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Laboratory experts with the USAMRIID agree that partnerships are the key
to combatting the Ebola outbreak.
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We couldnt have made the lab sustainable in the long-term without the
assistance of USAID, said Carter. I have never been to an outbreak
response where there has been this much intergovernmental collaboration.
This has been amazing.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Carol Han is a Press Officer for the Ebola Disaster Assistance Response
Team
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Related Links
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Visit our Ebola Content Hub: On the Front Lines of an Epidemic for more
stories and photos and view our photo collection
http://blog.usaid.gov/ebola
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Get details about our Grand Challenge for Development: Fighting Ebola
http://www.usaid.gov/grandchallenges/ebola
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Find More Information on how USAID is Responding to the Ebola Crisis
http://www.usaid.gov/ebola/
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Get Volunteer Information for qualified medical professionals
http://www.usaid.gov/ebola/volunteers
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Sincerely,
David Dillard
Temple University
(215) 204 - 4584
[log in to unmask]
http://workface.com/e/daviddillard
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