Latest news with #BSL-3
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
AIIMS Nagpur is Maharashtra's first medical college to get BSL-3 lab
Nagpur: In a significant step forward for public health in Vidarbha and surrounding areas, AIIMS Nagpur will soon be home to Maharashtra's first Bio-Safety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory in a medical college, thanks to a tie-up with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi. This cutting-edge lab will help doctors quickly detect and respond to deadly infections like Nipah, Zika, bird flu, and even viruses used in bioterrorism. For common people, this means faster diagnosis, better protection during disease outbreaks, and stronger health systems in our region. "This BSL-3 lab will make AIIMS Nagpur a hub for detecting dangerous infections early, which is crucial to stop them from spreading," said Dr Prashant P Joshi, executive director of AIIMS Nagpur. Currently, the only BSL-3 lab in Maharashtra is at the National Institute of Virology, Pune. Once operational, the Nagpur lab will not only serve patients but will also train microbiologists and technicians from across the state to fight infectious diseases better. Dr Meena Mishra, who heads the department of microbiology and is the project in charge, explained, "BSL-3 labs are highly secure and are built to handle very dangerous germs. These germs can cause severe disease and can spread from animals to humans, like Japanese Encephalitis, Mpox, or Nipah virus. With this lab, we'll be able to test and research them safely right here in Nagpur." Unlike the existing BSL-2 lab at AIIMS, which handles common infections like dengue and Covid-19, the BSL-3 lab will work with much riskier pathogens. It will have features like airtight rooms, HEPA filters to clean the air, and specially trained staff in full protective gear. The lab is being set up under the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. The NCDC has allotted Rs30 crore for it — Rs25 crore for infrastructure and Rs5 crore for equipment and testing kits. Experts from Delhi, including Sunil Bharadwaj (additional director, NCDC), Dr Ankur Garg (joint director), and Dr Aradhana Bhargava (nodal officer for the lab), recently signed the MoU with AIIMS authorities during their visit to Nagpur. Once ready, this BSL-3 lab will become a crucial defence system against any future epidemic or bio-emergency, ensuring that people in Central India don't have to wait or travel far for testing and treatment. "This initiative strengthens India's ability to deal with public health emergencies. We're proud to bring such a facility to Nagpur," Dr Joshi added.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Work on BSL-3 virus research lab in Kozhikode progressing at a slow pace
The work on a biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory is progressing at a slow pace at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode. The authorities are hopeful that it will be completed by the year-end. The proposal to upgrade the existing BSL-2 Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory under the State government to a regional-level lab was made after the Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode in 2018. As the regional lab should have BSL-3 standards, it was proposed to enhance the existing system there. According to sources, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) allocated ₹5.5 crore for the project in 2019. The estimate was later revised to ₹8 crore. The official process for the purpose was halted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The work began only in November 2021. Research on low-risk microbes is carried out at a BSL-1 lab and infectious organisms affecting humans can be dealt with at a BSL-2 lab. Indigenous or exotic microbes are handled at a BSL-3 lab, while deadly organisms require a BSL-4 lab. The sources said that the work is undertaken by the Central Public Works department. One of the reasons for the delay was a dispute between the contractor and the department, following which another contractor was assigned the work. It is learnt that the equipment for the lab is being purchased through Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd. A senior hospital official said on Tuesday (June 3) that the work could be completed by the end of this year, provided there were no further obstacles. At present, the body fluid samples of patients suspected to be suffering from highly infectious diseases such as Nipah are being sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for confirmation tests. Once the lab is fully functional after getting the approval from the ICMR, such tests can be done here. Health Minister Veena George had said in the Assembly last year that the lab would become fully functional by 2027.
