With the help of the US CDC/Avian Influenza Program and the Merieux Foundation, the renovation of a space for the microbiology laboratory was completed in July 2010.
Dr. Angelo Caon, a microbiologist and a VIDA volunteer, has been training the staff in diagnostic microbiology techniques since March 2011. Since that time, over 1000 specimens have been processed and 14 strains of Streptococcus suis have been isolated in the process.