K.C. Venugopal, a prominent Member of Parliament, has urgently reached out to Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda. His plea focuses on two critical needs: the immediate release of funds and the accelerated certification for the state-of-the-art Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory established at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Alappuzha, Kerala.
Venugopal emphasized that this advanced facility holds immense promise for dramatically improving Kerala’s public health infrastructure. It’s particularly vital for confronting existing and future health crises effectively.
The MP highlighted that the BSL-3 laboratory’s construction is complete, with successful three-month trial runs concluding in June 2025. Following this, the unit formally requested funding approval from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and subsequently sought certification from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Once fully operational and funded, this lab will enable critical in-state testing and confirmation of highly dangerous pathogens, such as the Nipah virus. This significant step will eliminate the current, often time-consuming, reliance on sending samples to NIV Pune, thereby ensuring faster diagnosis and a more rapid public health response.
Addressing Staffing Challenges
Despite the advanced stage of the lab’s readiness, a severe staff shortage threatens its timely operationalization. Efforts are reportedly underway to recruit necessary personnel on a contractual basis to bridge this gap. Venugopal underscored that a fully functional BSL-3 laboratory in Alappuzha would be indispensable for swift disease testing, groundbreaking research, and robust containment strategies against infectious outbreaks.
Tracing its origins, the NIV Kerala unit began as a BSL-2 facility in February 2008, initially operating with limited resources at the Government Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha. In late 2022, it successfully transitioned to a modern, purpose-built permanent facility in Kuravanthodu.
Currently, the unit actively conducts vital research into various prevalent viral diseases affecting the region. Their work spans epidemiological studies, virology, immunology, entomology, and crucial socio-behavioural aspects of disease spread.
It’s worth noting that the NIV Kerala unit gained national recognition during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was one of only four laboratories across India, alongside the apex NIV Pune, to be officially designated as a State nodal laboratory for comprehensive COVID-19 testing, showcasing its critical role in national health security.