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07 September 2020 | Story Prof Felicity Burt | Photo Supplied
Prof Felicity Burt in front of the new state-of-the-art biosafety Level (BSL) 3 laboratory.

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) new biosafety Level (BSL) 3 laboratory will allow the university’s world-respected researchers to further advance their research on and surveillance of infectious pathogens, with the ultimate benefit being the improved quality of health for the communities of the Free State and beyond.

That is the word from two leading UFS academics on the completion of the new facility; the BSL 3 laboratory will further enhance the university’s reputation for high-level international research – especially in the field of human pathogens – which will help to prevent disease and lead to better health outcomes.

The UFS Vice-Rector of Research, Professor Corli Witthuhn, stressed how important it is to have a facility of this nature – the only one of its kind in central South Africa – on the Bloemfontein campus, noting that its relevance is even greater, its role more critical now that the world finds itself in the grip of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Intensify research of the impact on human pathogens

“The new BSL 3 facility – the Pathogen Research Laboratory – promises to intensify our research of the impact on human pathogens, as it allows our South African Research Chairs (SARChl) and other outstanding researchers to broaden the range of microbial pathogens that are being studied, and gain a better understanding of the global disease burden,” she said.

Her sentiments were echoed by the university’s Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof Gert van Zyl, who added that the international level of quality research carried out in this facility will contribute to improvement in the disease profile of central South Africa.

“In supporting partners like the Free State Department of Health, this important scientific footprint in disease prevention and treatment will benefit the community at large by improving the quality of health research and delivering the best possible outcomes.”

The BSL 3 facility is supported by a small suite of laboratories for molecular and serological research and is accessible to any UFS researcher or student requiring a high level of pathogen containment. 

Appropriate biosafety and containment measures

Research and handling of infectious viruses and bacteria require appropriate biosafety and containment measures to prevent laboratory workers, personnel, and the environment being exposed to potentially biohazardous agents. 

There are four distinct levels of biosafety (levels one to four), with each having specific biosafety requirements. A BSL 3 laboratory is designed and precision-built to operate under negative pressure, and sees all exhausted air passing through a dedicated filter system to ensure that no pathogens escape into the environment. In addition, researchers wear appropriate personal protective equipment suited to the pathogens under investigation.  

The UFS BSL 3 laboratory is a modular container supplied by Air Filter Maintenance Services International (AFMS) and comprises two repurposed shipping containers. It was built and factory-tested in Johannesburg before being dismantled and relocated to the Bloemfontein Campus, where the containers were lifted by crane over trees and onto a concrete platform. The AFMS installation team then spent a number of days metamorphosing the two containers into a state-of-the-art laboratory, with a mechanical plant room and the ducting that maintains the laboratory under constant negative pressure, cleverly and discretely disguised behind cladding, allowing the structure to blend in with neighbouring buildings.

The need for training young researchers and developing skills

The Pathogen Research Laboratory is managed by Professor Felicity Burt, an arbovirologist with more than 25 years’ experience in handling infectious viruses. 

“Biosafety and biosecurity are essential in the investigation of emerging and infectious pathogens that cause significant disease and fatalities,” Prof Burt said.

“And while COVID-19, pandemic, viruses, vaccines, masks, social distancing, and lockdown were words seldom heard just six months ago, they are sadly now part of our everyday vocabulary,” she added, explaining that the current pandemic is the result of the zoonotic transmission of a virus from a wild animal to humans, with subsequent global spread.

“As this is not the first pandemic and will not be the last, the ongoing potential for the emergence of novel viruses and bacteria underscores the need for training young researchers and developing skills to tackle future outbreaks, develop new vaccines, understanding how pathogens cause disease, and discover alternate ways to mitigate outbreaks. 

“We are thrilled to have a state-of-the-art laboratory that allows us to safely handle those pathogens previously excluded from our research and surveillance programme. This facility positions the UFS to provide young scientists with world-class training and build capacity, now and into the future.”

* Division of Virology, University of the Free State, and NHLS, Bloemfontein, South Africa

News Archive

Verklaring - Afsterwe van student
2005-03-07

Afsterwe van eerstejaarstudent - Verklaring deur Die Rektor en Visekanselier van die UV, Prof Frederick Fourie

Die bestuur van die UV is diep ontsteld oor die tragiese dood van een van ons studente, Hannes van Rensburg, die afgelope naweek. Ons het reeds met die ouers geskakel en ons innige simpatie aan hulle oorgedra.

“Ek is ook erg bekommerd oor die aard van die bewerings oor drankgebruik en -misbruik, en neem elkeen van die bewerings ernstig op.” Die UV-bestuur is, net soos besture by ander universiteite, uiters bekommerd oor die drinkkultuur onder studente, veral ook die element daarvan wat met gewaande manlikheid te doen het. Ook ander elemente van koshuiskultuur en –gesagsverhoudinge hou dalk hiermee verband.

“Ek is ook ten sterkste gekant teen praktyke wat studente dwing tot sekere gedrag soos byvoorbeeld gedwonge drankgebruik”.

Iets soos ‘n “pa-seun” aand is ‘n verskynsel wat by verskeie universiteite voorkom. By die UV is dit geensins deel van die oriënteringsfase van eerstejaars nie. Dit vind juis etlike weke na die ontheffing van die eerstejaars plaas. Dit is ‘n normale funksie waarin seniors en eerstejaars saam sosiaal verkeer in die seniorbonde van koshuise.

Die UV-bestuur het streng beheermaatreëls in plek om drankgebruik te reguleer en dit binne perke te hou. Baie word gedoen om die verantwoordelike gebruik van alkohol aan te moedig. Dit is egter nie altyd moontlik om die individuele gedrag van studente te reguleer nie.

Ek kondig dus die volgende stappe aan, wat onmiddellik van krag is:

  • Die reg van alle seniorbonde op die UV kampus om alkoholiese drank te bedien word onmiddellik teruggetrek, tot verdere kennisgewing.
  • ‘n Indringende ondersoek onder leiding van dr Ezekiel Moraka, Viserektor: Studentesake, na die omstandighede rondom hierdie tragiese gebeurtenis is reeds geloods.
  • ‘n Breër ondersoek na die drinkkultuur en verwante elemente van koshuistradisies sal deel van hierdie ondersoek wees.

Dissiplinêre stappe sal geneem word teen persone wat skuldig bevind word aan wangedrag met betrekking tot hierdie tragiese voorval.


Uitgereik deur: Lacea Loader
Mediaverteenwoordiger
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Sel: 083 645 2454
E-pos: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
7 Maart 2005

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