A Belgian lab against Ebola in Guinea

(BRUSSELS2) The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed this this evening. A mobile laboratory of B-Fast (Belgian humanitarian aid) will be deployed in Guinea to fight against the spread of the Ebola virus. The Council of Ministers on Friday (December 5) approved the deployment after having “ received from France the assurances he was waiting for to ensure the safety of the Belgian team.. He will be " deployed in the coming weeks », specify Foreign Affairs, for a period “ one month, renewable after prior evaluation”.

A lab developed with the European Space Agency

This B-Life mobile laboratory was developed by Defense, the Catholic University of Louvain and the European Space Agency. It has communication capabilities and allows blood samples to be analyzed as close as possible to the area affected by the epidemic. " B-FAST will be responsible for on-site logistical support with a unit from Defense and the SPF (Ministry) of the Interior”. The European Commission is funding the transport of the mobile unit to Nzérékoré under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

A request from France

Belgium is thus responding to a request from the French government, which plays the role of lead nation in Guinea for the coordination of relief against Ebola. The United Kingdom fulfills this coordination role for Sierra Leone and the United States for Liberia. As Defense Minister Steven Vandeput recently explained to MPs, the government has decided to "associating with global projects », particularly with France, with whom « we maintain close contact ". Belgium has also decided to provide medium-capacity all-terrain vehicles for medical transport. Fifteen Unimog-type vehicles were made available to Guinean civil protection in Conakry.

(NGV)

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