New bio-containment system unveiled in Georgia

DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga., Aug. 14 (UPI) -- A containerized bio-containment system has been unveiled in Georgia by the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

The containerized unit is a self-contained, roll on, roll off solution that can be used on commercial and military aircraft and easily decontaminated and stored indefinitely without significant maintenance.

The State Department said it was developed leveraging lessons learned from conducting high-risk medevac missions, such as the evacuation of Ebola victim from West Africa. It was developed by the State Department and MRIGlobal with contributions from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

Dobbins Air Reserve Base and its 94th Airlift Wing were chosen by the State Department as the host for the system because of the installation's proximity to world-class hospitals that can treat patients infected with highly contagious pathogens and the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Air Force said.

"Along with our strategic location to the Center for Disease Control (and Prevention) and Emory Hospital, we are also able to provide the logistics and security for delivery of incoming patients," said Col. Brent Merritt, the 94th AW commander. "Cobb County and the metro Atlanta area have a tremendous amount of resources."

"There is nothing like this out there right now," said. Dr. Thomas Sack, the president of MRIGlobal. "We are ready for the next threat. These can safely transport patients while keeping the aircrew safe."

MRIGlobal, headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a contract research organization