GOV VISITS VIRAL LAB- Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards paid a visit to LSU Health Shreveport this past Monday, the purpose of which was to tour the partially completed Center for Medical Education and Emerging Viral Threats being built on the 4th floor of the medical school. Back in early 2020 during the beginning of the Corona Virus Pandemic, Edwards supported the establishment of an Emerging Viral Threat laboratory to work on faster detection and processing of Covid-19 tests.
The new lab was quickly established at LSU Health Shreveport and helped produce PCR tests and made them available throughout Louisiana. It also worked on other diagnostic processes including the testing of wastewater for the virus. During his remarks, Edwards highlighted the significance of the lab’s early efforts in helping the state fight Covid-19.
“Because of LSU Health Shreveport we were better able to predict where the virus was going and the data provided was used by emergency preparedness officials to ensure that we had adequate hospital capacity for people who were getting seriously ill with Covid-19,” Edwards said.
The Center for Medical Education and Emerging Viral Threats is about 65% finished. Edwards said once complete, he anticipates the lab will further enhance Northwest Louisiana’s Medical Corridor by attracting some of the best-medical minds involved in researching emerging viral threats.
The Center for Medical Education and Emerging Viral Threats lab is scheduled to open in summer 2023.
