Identification environnementale d’agents pathogènes : Retex COVID-19 et perspectives

Unlike pathogens defined by an incubation period preceding their clinical expression, biological warfare agents affect the body within hours of exposure. This may delay the identification of a collective infectious phenomenon. Many detection devices can be used in chemical and radiological hazards, but few options exist in biological hazard. The need for skills to analyse pathogens in the environment was early identified by the BMPM (Marseille navy fire battalion); and the Covid-19 health crisis enabled innovative processes and opened up new perspectives. Thanks to the expertise of ‘VDIP’ (vehicle for detection, identification and sampling) technicians, the BMPM collaborated with a biotechnology lab to analyse by RT-PCR the provided samples for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The main goals were to map the virus’ presence in the BMPM grounds and to ensure the bio cleaning procedures efficiency. Once the techniques were considered as reliable, and once the detection limits were assessed, this operational capability was proposed to the city of Marseille, to the French Army and to institutional stake holders. With these skills and experience, the BMPM acquired on-board PCR devices in the VDIP. This skill opens up interesting perspectives in the biological hazard field. Indeed, with a specific biological threat PCR primer, it will thus be possible to quickly assess the presence of on-site biological warfare agents in case of any suspicious activity.