In Conakry, the capital of Guinea, local virologists, together with international experts, identified the hantavirus as the cause of a deadly outbreak that has already claimed at least 50 lives. The African laboratory became the first line of defence in the fight against the unknown disease.
How Guinean virologists uncovered the nature of a deadly virus
In the laboratory in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, a team of local specialists led by Dr Ibrahima Silla in collaboration with international experts, worked around the clock to find out the cause of the mysterious disease that has swept the southeast of the country. According to Silla, blood samples brought from the region where the deaths were reported revealed unique genetic markers that are characteristic of hantavirus.
“We knew we were dealing with something new for our healthcare system. It was a challenge, and we could not afford to make a mistake,” he stressed. The discovery of the hantavirus was a crucial step for the government and international organisations to take. After confirming the diagnosis, the laboratory immediately passed on the results to WHO, This allowed us to quickly deploy additional resources to contain the outbreak.
The impact of discovery on the fight against epidemics in Africa
The discovery of the hantavirus in Guinea was not only a breakthrough for the local laboratory, but also a testament to the importance of investing in biomedical research on the continent. Dr Silla emphasised: “We have proven that African scientists are able to respond quickly to new threats and work on a par with the world's leading laboratories.” According to him, this experience can serve as a model for other countries in the region facing similar challenges.
International partners have already offered additional support to expand laboratory capacity in Conakry. At the same time, the Government of Guinea urged the population to follow sanitary recommendations and report suspicious cases. “We have to work together to stop this virus and prevent more victims,” Sylla added.
