As the coronavirus spreads throughout China and the number of patients and victims rises, RTL has taken a closer look at the Grand Duchy's plan, should a case arise. To date there have been 13 patients diagnosed in Germany, six in France and one in Belgium, but none in Luxembourg.
Last week, Luxembourg's health professionals experienced a scare as a suspected case arose, but by the evening of the same day, the patient had tested negative for the fast-spreading epidemic.
As for the procedure established by the LNS, a patient suspected to have the virus would be isolated in the capital's hospital centre (CHL) and subjected to tests. Samples would be sent to and processed by the National Health Laboratory in Dudelange.
The new coronavirus requires methods of analysis which have been developed in tandem with a laboratory in Rotterdam, and are now well-established in Dudelange.
Last weekend, the first case of testing took place. Dr Trun Nguyen, the LNS's department head, attended the testing personally, and explained the four stages of testing to RTL.
Samples are sent to a lab with security level three, in which staff are only allowed to enter if wearing full protective clothing. The first step involves rendering the virus inactive, while the second employs modern technology to filter out the viral genomes. Next, the sample is tested to check if it is coronavirus or not.
In order to check if the test works, the lab team has developed a synthetic form of the virus and runs it through the machine. The results take around four to five hours. If the curve points upward, coronavirus is confirmed. However, one more stage of testing is required.
In the next room, lab staff work to rule out other illnesses or lung infections. Health director Jean-Claude Schmit told RTL they expected to receive more cases of testing as the virus spreads, and the National Health Laboratory was well prepared for such instances.
The LNS, Ministry of Health and health inspectors are therefore permanently exchanging secure information.
