Thailand's Medical Science Department Ready for Plague with BSL-3 Lab
Thailand's Department of Medical Sciences announced it is equipped with a BSL-3 biosafety laboratory capable of detecting the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis within 24 hours using real-time PCR. The facility can also culture and confirm the pathogen under strict quality and safety controls, ensuring reliable diagnosis. Officials stress the readiness is vital for swift surveillance and control of any suspected plague cases, particularly the pneumonic form that spreads via respiratory droplets.
The Department of Medical Sciences affirmed its preparedness to confront plague, highlighting its BSL-3 biosafety lab that can test for Yersinia pestis and deliver results within 24 hours using real-time PCR. The facility can also culture the organism and confirm it through biochemical testing under proper quality control and biosafety standards, staffed by experts with effective equipment to ensure accurate and reliable diagnosis. Dr. Adisorn added that plague is a severe infectious disease requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment, particularly pneumonic plague, which transmits between people through respiratory droplets.
