The Victorian Government is giving a former Covid-19 rapid testing lab a new lease on life – transforming it into an emergency animal diagnostics and plant disease van.
Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney announced the new mobile diagnostic van will further strengthen Victoria’s capacity to respond to an outbreak of emergency animal diseases (EAD).
Ms Tierney said the impact of an emergency disease extends far beyond the agriculture industry.
“This new van will ensure Victoria remains on the front foot when responding to potential outbreaks,” she said.
“Our new diagnostic van will help scientists test and prepare samples of animal and plant diseases swiftly, which will allow them to respond rapidly in a potential outbreak.”
Bought from the Doherty Institute, the fit out of the repurposed van includes state-of-the-art biosecurity technology, so that scientists can undertake important work – while being easily deployable at any location across the state.
The vehicle offers enough space to process and investigate samples for testing, data entry and waste collection, while also having a hand washing station to ensure scientists work in a hygienic space.
The mobile diagnostic van will allow scientists to respond to potential outbreaks immediately and remove the need to transport thousands of samples for testing – further alleviating the pressure on existing laboratories.
Protecting the state’s biosecurity is a top priority for the Labor Government, investing $17.5 million to emergency animal disease preparedness in the Victorian Budget 2023-24, taking the total investment over the past 12 months to $43 million.
