October 9th, 2023Top new bio job for recycled COVID van
The Victorian Government is giving a former COVID-19 rapid testing lab a new lease on life – transforming it into an emergency animal diagnostics and plant disease van.
In recent days the state’s minister for agriculture Gayle Tierney has announced the new mobile diagnostic van will further strengthen Victoria’s capacity to respond to an outbreak of emergency animal diseases (EAD).
Bought from the Doherty Institute, the fit out of the repurposed van includes state-of-the-art biosecurity technology, so that scientists can undertake important work – while being easily deployable at any location across the state.
The vehicle offers enough space to process and investigate samples for testing, data entry and waste collection, while also having a hand washing station to ensure scientists work in a hygienic space.
The mobile diagnostic van will allow scientists to respond to potential outbreaks immediately and remove the need to transport thousands of samples for testing – further alleviating the pressure on existing laboratories.
Protecting the state’s biosecurity is a top priority for the government, investing $17.5 million to emergency animal disease preparedness in the Victorian Budget 2023-24, taking the total investment over the past 12 months to $43 million.
