Monaco: the importance of diagnosis (at low cost) to fight the pandemic
The “Global Virus Network and Monaco Covid-19 diagnostic Conference”, which is being held until this evening on the theme of “Promises and Challenges”, deals with one of the weapons against the transmission of the virus: the diagnosis. With a sizeable challenge: to develop low-cost solutions, accessible to all, to find an answer that can only be global.
With the development and new threats of the Omicron variant, the Conference “Global Virus Network and Monaco Covid-19 diagnostic”“takes on a particular relief. On the theme”Promises and Challenges “, the conference, which opened yesterday Thursday and ends this evening Friday December 3 (online and face-to-face), deals with the diagnosis of infectious diseases in order to effectively contain viral transmission. One of the central questions of the 5th wave in progress and the threatening arrival of the new variant.
“Diagnosis has been an underestimated area”
“Diagnosis has been an underestimated area in this major health crisis” explains the teacher Christian Bréchot, Chairman of the Global Virus Network and Professor in the Department of Infectious Disease Research at the University of South Florida. “However, it is an essential tool to curb viral threats and maintain economic, social and cultural activities in the context of such pandemics. There has been considerable technological progress in this field which must be translated into routine diagnostic methods “.
During these two days, academics, industry and governments will present innovative technologies for meaningful collaborations, with a focus on middle and low-income countries. “The role of the various diagnostic tests and immunological surveillance to guide the vaccine policy will be considered, as well as the overall strategy of biological management and of this type of epidemic.“, underlines the professor Patrick rampal, President of the Scientific Center of Monaco.
Commentary discovered an arsenal of global and collaborative diagnostics
“As the number of cases increases dangerously, the workshop represents a unique opportunity to examine different situations and responses in several countries. An urgent need.”
To pay Alain Merieux, President of the Mérieux Foundation, “The strategic importance of diagnosis, and particularly early detection, has become evident during this pandemic. In our industrialized countries, but especially in vulnerable countries, where epidemics often start.” Hence the importance of developing low-cost solutions, accessible to all, in order to find an answer that can only be global.
