By ALICE NACHILEMBE
The University of Zambia (UNZA) Lecturer and Researcher Katendi Changula has developed a rapid Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) diagnostic test kit.
Dr Changula, who is a Lecturer and Researcher in the Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine said QuickNaviTM-Ebola is designed simple and quick to use.
She said it only takes 10 minutes from the time of application of the sample to getting the results.
Dr Changula said that QuickNavi TM-Ebola is currently in use in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for routine diagnosis and surveillance of EVD in the current Ebola outbreak that started in 2018.
and UNZA Vice-Chancellor, Prof Luke Evuta Mumba, has congratulated Dr Katendi for developing a rapid Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) diagnostic test kit.
The test kit is called QuickNaviTM-Ebola in collaboration with Denka Seiken and Center for Zoonosis Control in Japan.
Prof Mumba said Dr Changula has shown commitment to fighting EVD by developing a rapid, reliable and easy-to-use diagnostic test kit.
“Your innovation will solve the problem of delayed confirmatory diagnosis which leads to increased secondary transmission of the Ebola disease. UNZA is proud of your contribution to the fight against Ebola,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor, also said Dr Changula’s innovation is a breakthrough in creating an early warning system for the Ebola Virus, an important step in solving the problem of EVD.
The Ebola virus causes severe haemorrhagic fever known as Ebola virus disease (EVD) in humans and animals. The disease has been reported to affect regions that are usually in remote areas or deep in the rain forest, with limited medical, public health, transportation and communication infrastructure.
