Government To Set Up Laboratories To Tackle Bio-Terrorism

New Delhi: The government is setting up a national network of Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL) across the country to handle cases of bio-terrorism.

"The department of health research is setting up a three tiered national network of VRDLs under its ongoing research scheme viz Establishment of network of Laboratories for Managing Epidemics and Natural Calamities," Minister of State for Health Shripad Yesso Naik said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

"The department is committed to set up a total of 160 VRDLs all across the country. These VRDLs are being equipped to handle 30-35 viruses of public health importance. These laboratories will also handle the possible cases of bio-terrorism," he added.

He said the department of health has not sought any assistance from any foreign organisation to enable these laboratories to fight against bio-terrorism.

"However National Institute of Virology in Pune has received financial assistance from Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta as per the Global Health Security Agenda," the minister said.

"It would enhance bio-risk mitigation awareness in pubic health community and creating laboratory networks for enhanced diagnostic capabilities to deal with surveillance and outbreaks of high risk group viral pathogens causing viral hemorrhagic fevers and respiratory infections'," Naik said.