stjorthotic Chapter 559 - 429: Arrival—A Turbulent and Deceptive Situation!
Chapter 559 - 429: Arrival—A Turbulent and Deceptive Situation!
Three days later.In a biological laboratory on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa.
At this moment, it’s already three o’clock in the morning in South Africa, while back home, it’s exactly nine in the morning. Just now, Zhao Heng and Xu Man Ni had a videoconference with their parents.
Since arriving at this laboratory in South Africa two days ago, Zhao Heng has almost been in daily contact with his family through video calls.
Having been here for two days, Zhao Heng is still adjusting to the time difference, and despite it being the early morning, Zhao Heng feels no drowsiness at all.
Back home, there were two other experts who arrived as well, both of whom are epidemiology specialists.
Moreover, this biological laboratory is not the kind of laboratory in the ordinary sense. To call it a laboratory is less accurate than calling it a camp, with researchers sleeping in tents.
People from various countries have come, so Zhao Heng naturally doesn’t have a tent to himself; he shares one with Professor Hu, a fellow epidemiology expert who came along.
Reflecting on the scenes witnessed during the day, Zhao Heng truly cannot sleep. Before coming, he thought this was a long-established World Health Organization laboratory, but only upon arrival did he realize that everything here was set up just a week ago.
Even now, there is a section still under construction, making the camp appear busy every day, with various people coming and going constantly.
"Xiao Zhao, can’t sleep?"
Professor Hu got up, bare-chested, and upon seeing Zhao Heng still awake, couldn’t help but speak.
The climate in South Africa is hot, so at night, people generally don’t wear much clothing.
Only he and Zhao Heng came from back home, so before coming, he had some understanding of Zhao Heng, a rising talent and new star in China’s biomedical field.
Regarding the achievements Zhao Heng has made during this period, he is quite impressed.
"A little."
Zhao Heng nodded. Suddenly coming to a place so far from home, it’s quite normal not to be able to sleep.
"Xiao Zhao, you’ve been here for two days now, what do you think of this place?"
Professor Hu looked at Zhao Heng with meaningful intent and asked.
"Professor, to be honest, this place is completely different from what I expected before coming here. Just speaking of the biological safety level, I’m afraid it doesn’t even reach level three, right?"
Zhao Heng shook his head slightly and said.
Before coming, he was told it was a laboratory affiliated with the United Nations Health Organization. He expected at least a well-equipped professional lab with a biological safety level of not necessarily level four, but at least level three. Otherwise, how could they research a terrifying virus like the Ebola virus?
Biological safety refers to the real or potential danger to humans, animals, or plants posed by biological vectors of infection through direct transmission or indirect environmental disruption.
Biological safety levels are determined according to various degrees of biological hazard, including requirements for personnel, laboratory, and even environmental protection. Typically, they are divided into four levels to accommodate different needs in scientific research, education, clinical, and diagnostic applications.
Biological safety level one refers to pathogens with all characteristics understood that do not cause disease in research personnel, such as baculovirus, guinea pig herpesvirus, squirrel monkey herpesvirus, etc.
Biological safety level two refers to pathogens with moderate infectiousness and potential risks associated with some common human diseases, such as hepatitis A, B, C viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, etc.
Biological safety level three refers to highly infectious pathogens that can cause fatal diseases and require specialized protection, such as HIV, West Nile encephalitis virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, etc.
The highest biological safety level four refers to highly contagious, highly lethal pathogens or those with many unknown characteristics, requiring high-level protection. Currently, there are no effective vaccines or treatments available, such as Argentine hemorrhagic fever virus, Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Ebola virus, and more.
"Xiao Zhao, is this your first time going abroad for such a task?"
Professor Hu glanced at Zhao Heng and commented ambiguously. Apparently, since arriving here, Professor Hu seemed unfazed, definitely experienced with such situations.
"Yes."
Zhao Heng nodded, seeing Professor Hu’s composed demeanor. He wondered if he was overreacting.
"I remember you have experience dealing with Brain-Eating Amoeba infections in China. I won’t say too much about the professional aspect. Xiao Zhao, just remember, we are in Africa."
Professor Hu said meaningfully.
"Yes, we are in Africa."
Zhao Heng sighed slightly. Any irrationalities can be explained by this single sentence: "We are in Africa."
It’s worth noting that South Africa is almost the most developed country in Africa, and Johannesburg is the largest and best city in South Africa, representing the highest level of development in all of Africa.
Even in such a place, it’s still impossible to establish a level three biological laboratory, an indication of the overall technological level in Africa.
Establishing a professional biological laboratory is not a simple task. Generally speaking, safety, efficiency, and comfort are the three ideal factors for setting up a biological laboratory.
A biosafety laboratory must ensure personal safety, environmental safety, waste safety, and sample safety, able to operate long-term and safely, while also providing laboratory personnel with a comfortable and good working environment.