KOZHIKODE: The Medical College hospital (MCH) here is all set to get the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) virology lab to act as the state-level nodal centre.
The ICMR team had visited MCH recently to inspect its infrastructure. “We are expecting the nod from ICMR soon,” said MCH Principal, Dr P.V Narayanan.
The setting up of the lab will go a long way in the early detection and prevention of viral diseases such as Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), Dengue, H1N1, Chikunguniya etc.
At present, samples are being sent to the Department of Virus Research in Manipal or National Institute of Virology, Pune, which causes inordinate delay in getting the result.
The delay in confirming the cases had invited the wrath of the public when KFD broke out in Wayanad recently. ICMR is also contemplating commencing regional virology labs in all government medical colleges in the country.
According to sources, Kozhikode MCH will be given '6 crore in the initial phase to start the unit. An additional RS 50 lakh will be disbursed annually for five years.
After five years, the state government has to take over the unit. “The state-of-the-art lab will be a boon in the early detection of diseases. Normally, sending samples to Manipal takes four to seven days. This could be avoided and we can closely monitor many diseases,” noted Wayanad district medical officer (DMO), Dr P.V Shashidharan.
