Staying in Fiji where they’ve launched a Pathogen Genetics lab which will allow health officials in the country to read the fingerprint of a virus or bacteria.
It means the country will be able to trace where a disease has come from and where it’s spreading. A significant step for a country dealing with a buckling healthcare system this could mean an improvement in healthcare for the whole Pacific region.
“I think it’s a great step forward,” said Professor Ben Howden, director of the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit with the Doherty Institute.
“It really improves the ability of Fiji to make decisions in a informed way,” he added.