The pavilion of Lauro Travassos at the Manguinhos Fiocruz campus (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation) burned down this Sunday night (30). The fire was extinguished after work continued until Monday morning (1st).

The pavilion houses the laboratories of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute for disease and drug research. According to Fiokrus, there were no casualties. The extent of the damage caused by the fire has yet to be assessed.

The fire engulfed the pavilion where the Fiokrus laboratories work. – Photo: Fernando Frazao/Agência Brasil/Disclosure/ND

The fire brigade from Cogic (General Infrastructure Coordination of Campi) worked together with CBMERJ (Military Fire Brigade of the State of Rio de Janeiro). On Monday morning, a group of firefighters remained on campus to watch.

“Workers’ health coordination followed the incident, but no one was hurt. The doorman, the only worker who was in the pavilion when the fire started, was not hurt and is doing well,” the foundation said in a statement.

The part of the pavilion that was damaged by the fire houses the laboratories of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute, access to the territory is still prohibited. Once the crew has cleared entry to the pavilion, Cogic will conduct an on-site technical security check to determine access procedures.

According to Fiocrus, the flames did not reach the containers at the back of the pavilion, and it is still impossible to assess the extent of the impact of the fire on the laboratories or its cause.

“During this Monday and the next few days, President Fiokruz will be coordinating the team with unit management and Cogic to assess the impact and take immediate action. Removal of critical equipment and materials to reduce damage can only be done after a safety assessment. New information will be released as soon as possible,” says Fiokrus.

Reference Laboratories

Among the 72 laboratories of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute, there are several outstanding Fiocruz Research Centers that carry out work on topics such as AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, leptospirosis, hepatitis, leprosy and meningitis, among others. . .

Among them is the Laboratory for Respiratory Viruses, Exanthematics, Enteroviruses and Viral Emergencies, which has been serving as the World Health Organization’s reference center in the Americas since the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Institute also conducts environmental research, drug discovery, and the development of new vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutic strategies.