The Nigerian Ministry of Health and the WHO through its GOARN (Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network) requested the assistance of the European Mobile Laboratory Project to investigate and diagnose on patients suspected of having Ebola Virus infection in Nigeria.
One of three laboratory units of the EMLab-Project has been handed over to the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control (ILFRC) at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) in February 2014 and scientists of the ILFRC have been trained in the deployment and use of the unit in Germany and Nigeria. These scientists, together with the coordinator of the project and one colleague from the BNITM, prepared the unit for the diagnostic mission and deployed.
First the team set up the lab in Enugu, where they tested suspected samples. Then the lab unit was moved to Port Harcourt where again patient samples where tested.
The concept of the laboratory and the training of scientists from Nigeria and Europe successfully paid of to help in outbreak response and management following the request by the Nigerian Ministry of Health and the WHO.