The Ministry of Health has also established a sophisticated laboratory that can supervise the activity of the influenza virus. The laboratory is expected to start providing services from January. [break]
Previously the NPHL had to send the samples for confirmation to Bangkok or the United Kingdom and wait for more than two weeks to get the test results. But with the establishment of the laboratory, NPHL can give the report within 48 hours.
"This is the first time we are going to start the virus isolation test, with which we can identify the types of virus," Dr Geeta Shakya, executive director of the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) said.
"We can confirm the types of influenza virus such as H1, H3, and H5 or of other types," Dr Jeetendra Shrestha, deputy coordinator of Avian Influenza Control Project (AICP) said. According to Dr Shrestha, the World Health Organization (WHO) and AICP will assist the government to run the sophisticated laboratory. "The WHO has given training to lab technicians and AICP will provide the equipment," he said.
The bidding process for the equipment has already started. This is the first time such sophisticated equipment is being brought to the country. The NPHL has also established influenza´s sample collection centers across the country.
"We have established 10 centers across the country," Dr Shakya said. In the central region, NPHL has established its sample collection centre at Teku Hospital, Kanti Children Hospital and Bharatpur Hospital. Centers have also been set up in Pokhara, Butwal and Palpa in the Western Region, apart from Mechi Zonal Hospital and B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in the Eastern Region. Similarly, centers have been set up in Nepalgunj of the Mid Western and Seti Zonal Hospital in Far western region.
"We will collect the samples of suspicious influenza cases on a regular basis from those centers and if there is an outbreak, we will collect more samples," she said. She added that an expert from India has come to train local technicians of the NPHL. The Indian technician will stay here till two to three weeks after the opening up of the laboratory.
Related story
COVID-19 patients in home isolation recovering faster than thos...
