Global Security Newswire

Uzbekistan on Friday brought online two U.S.-funded biodefense facilities that are expected to boost the Central Asian region's ability track disease outbreaks, the Central Asia Newswire reported (see GSN, Jan. 18).

Located in the cities of Andijan and Ferghana in the Ferghana Valley, the laboratories are to support diagnostic efforts in Uzbekistan and the wider region, UzDaily.com reported on Wednesday.

Work on the two facilities wrapped up in December. The price of building and providing technology for the facilities was $1.3 million. Funding came through the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, which is also providing instruction to laboratory personnel in the use and upkeep of the advanced systems (Central Asia Newswire, March 23).