Deployment of a Mobile Laboratory for the Control and Monitoring of High-Consequence Infectious Diseases: An Illustration With the Ebola Virus, the Biowarfare Agents, and the COVID-19

Abstract

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused societal issues, economic and political tensions worldwide. This shows, once more, that dissemination of correct information based on scientific evidence together with a quick and concerted action is the key to build a sound capability for the management of biological emergencies. Here, we summarize the lessons learnedfrom our preparedness and intervention during (i) our deployment during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa;(ii) our large-scale exercises from Horizon 2020 Security program where the focus is on handling intentional dispersion of infectious agents;and (iii) our fight against COVID-19: by the deployment of Biological Light Fieldable Laboratory for Emergencies (BLiFE mobile laboratory) in Turin and Novara, Piedmont Region, Italy. At the latter deployment, the ultimate goal was a large screening for COVID-19 prevalence in primo intervention individuals. It cannot be ignored that the COVID-19 pandemic is an ideal situation to whet our preparedness, coordination of response and risks monitoring in case of future biological threats or attacks.