Scare changes routine at NIV

The SARS Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome scare has thrown normal life out of year at this Pune institute. The batch of six scientists wo...

The SARS Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome scare has thrown normal life out of year at this Pune institute. The batch of six scientists working at the National Institute of Virology NIV on SARS are virtually confined to the campus.

Donning special masks and protective gear, they work through the day. They even bathe and eat at the campus. 8216;8216;We simply cannot let them go home,8217;8217; says Dr A.C. Mishra, officer-in-charge, NIV.

Ever since the mystery killer flu has claimed lives across Asia, the NIV has been working overtime to prepare the diagnostic kits for conducting laboratory investigation of the disease.

Experts from departments of microbiology, tissue culture and other departments have been roped in to work on the laboratory investigations non-stop. When one batch of scientists is exhausted and completes their work, the next group is brought in. 8216;8216;Since the disease is infectious, we have been extra-cautious about their safety arrangements,8217;8217; Mishra says.

The 50-year-old institution8217;s mandate is to identify viruses and over the years, the NIV has successfully identified over 500 strains. With expertise in handling all kinds of viruses and conducting research studies, the NIV was selected as one of the nodal agencies apart from National Institute of Communicable Diseases NICD, New Delhi, for undertaking laboratory investigation of SARS.

Apart from being flooded daily with panic calls on cases of pneumonia, the NIV has been sent a sample each from Bhopal and Mumbai for SARS testing. 8216;8216;We expect another sample from Hyderabad,8217;8217; says Mishra, adding quickly: 8216;8216;There is nothing to worry about at this point of time8217;8217;. According to Mishra, research is underway to establish which virus is responsible for SARS 8212; either the human metapneumo virus or the corona virus or both.

The NIV team has been developing the kits as per the WHO guidelines. The WHO does not supply the diagnostic kits, but provides information and lays down guidelines on how to conduct the test. 8216;8216;Apart from importing certain reagents, we synthesise our own reagents and develop a test,8217;8217; says Mishra. There is no dearth of funds as well.

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The important test is the Polymerase Chain Reaction test which requires a lot of primers or chemicals. The way to sequence them is provided by the WHO after which the NIV scientists synthesise the chemicals.

The institute also has electron microscopy facility which enables to view the structure of the virus.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More