In early April, the Wadsworth Center received a request from the Maine Public Health Laboratory for assistance with infectious disease testing following a fire on the roof of their facility resulting in a loss of ventilation and suspension of laboratory operations.
The Wadsworth Center responded immediately, offering to provide critical laboratory testing support during the disruption. To date, the Division of Infectious Diseases has performed testing for measles, mumps, and norovirus on specimens originally received by the Maine Public Health Laboratory and redirected to the Wadsworth Center.
The Maine Public Health Laboratory is expected to resume normal operations during the week of April 27.
This response highlights the Wadsworth Center’s ability to rapidly mobilize and provide surge testing capacity, supporting continuity of public health laboratory services, and strengthening regional response capabilities across the Northeast.