The biological safety laboratory block class 3 was set up at the NIHE under the collaboration of Vietnam’s Health Ministry, the Planning and Investment Ministry, the NIHE and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The lab will enable Vietnamese doctors to conduct tests to discover bird flu virus H5N1 and other dangerous, contagious diseases including anthrax – testing that was previously sent abroad for analysis, said Nguyen Tran Hien, director of the NIHE.

In related news, Health Minister Tran Thi Trung Chien and Japanese Ambassador Norio Hattori have recently signed a diplomatic note saying Japan will fund Vietnam about US$8 million to build more labs at the institute.

The new lab system is scheduled for operation in December next year.

Source: Tuoi Tre – Translated by Tuong Nhi