THE HAGUE - The Analytical Diagnostic Center (ADC) in Curaçao is connected to an international network for monitoring and detecting possible variants of viruses that are circulating. This concerns the SARS-CoV-2 virus that caused the last pandemic. In addition, new viruses are also monitored.
As the pandemic eases in intensity, concerns in the medical and scientific community have not abated. There is increasing demand for the world to remain in a state of preparedness. In this context, plans are being made to closely monitor variants and other possible new viruses, so that a timely response can be taken if necessary.
In this context, the European Commission has set up the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) Incubator. The term Incubator refers to the status of the authority that is still in the preparation phase. The European Commission has given the Netherlands a subsidy to work on a surveillance system, from which the Caribbean Netherlands will also benefit.
The coordinator for the Netherlands is the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), which is part of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. RIVM has chosen the ADC in Curaçao and LABHOH in Aruba as the two laboratories in the Caribbean that are part of this innovative project.
Training
Since June last year, two ADC officials have traveled to the Netherlands where they received the necessary training for the project. In this context, the ADC has received an advanced device that makes it possible to detect variants and new viruses, known in the scientific world as “sequencing”.
Last week, two experts from RIVM came to Curaçao to provide training and guidance to the Medical Microbiology Department of the ADC on the use of this device.