Ebolavirus outbreak in West Africa: Portuguese laboratory response overview

Cordeiro, Rita; Pelerito, Ana; Lopes de Carvalho, Isabel; Núncio, Sofia

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/4667

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Authors

Cordeiro, Rita

Pelerito, Ana

Lopes de Carvalho, Isabel

Núncio, Sofia

Abstract(s)

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa was the largest and most complex outbreak since the virus was discovered in 1976. First cases were notified in March of 2014 and currently cases are still being reported in the affected countries. To respond to the epidemic of Ebola virus, Portugal created an coordination committee where the National Institute of Health, through the Emergency Response and Biopreparedness Unit (UREB), participated integrating the “Platform Response to Ebola Virus Disease”. This unit is the national reference laboratory for biological events or catastrophes and has skilled professionals, know-how, BSL-3 facilities, capacity to work 24h/7d and trained human resources to increase lab capacity in emergency situations. The laboratory diagnosis capacity includes the detection of bacteria, virus and toxins, which are considered bioterrorism agents, using Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Biology techniques. elopment of national guidelines and establish an agreement with European reference BSL-4 laboratories for additional tests.