Deployment of a Mobile Laboratory for the Control and Monitoring of High Consequence Infectious Diseases: An Illustration With the Ebola Virus, the Biowarfare Agents, and the COVID-19

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused societal issues, economic and political tensions worldwide. This shows, once more, that dissemination of correct information based on scientific evidence together with a quick and concerted action is the key to build a sound capability for the management of biological emergencies.

The article summarises the lessons learned from preparedness and intervention during (i) a deployment during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa; (ii) a large-scale exercises from Horizon 2020 Security program where the focus is on handling intentional dispersion of infectious agents; and (iii) the fight against COVID-19: by the deployment of Biological Light Fieldable Laboratory for Emergencies (B-LiFE mobile laboratory) in Turin and Novara, Piedmont Region, Italy.