At a time of the resurgence of the Ebola epidemic, focus on the Institute of Applied Biological Research in Guinea (Irbag) in the Kindia region, 135 km from Conakry. It is located on the grounds of the former Institut Pasteur, which was founded in 1922 by Dr. Calmette, who mainly owed the tuberculosis vaccine. It is a jewel of colonial architecture, its archives are full of treasures for historians. Today, his research, supported by Russian cooperation, focuses on viruses such as Ebola or Covid-19. But it is especially known by the inhabitants of the region for being the only place where we treat snake bites that kill nearly 30,000 people a year in sub-Saharan Africa according to estimates.
Near Camara, snake hunter, tracks reptiles accompanied by Martin Milimono. “You must be careful and look closely at the ground,” the two men advise. “We found a green mamba, it is one of the most dangerous from Africa.” Near Camara knows well, “he was bitten and he has only four fingers left on this hand.”
However, he has not lost any of his dexterity: in a moment, the business is in the bag. “The grip is beautiful: an adult of 2m10”, he tells us. The Snake thus joins the impressive collection of Professor Cellou Baldé. “You just have to approach it so that it clicks and the poison starts to flow,” the professor explains.
Used in the cosmetics industry or in the manufacture of serum, one gram can sell for up to $ 2,000. The samples are sent to Mexico for sequencing. “Here is the most dangerous snake, it is the black Mamba”, shows us Cellou Baldé who was marked by the death of a young girl before his eyes. Then in 1995 he decided to dedicate himself to the study of reptiles. It now treats more than 500 bee victims each year.
“In Guinea, we encounter all the species that are likely to occur in Africa, albeit just south of the Sahara. That is why we very often say that Guinea is ‘Africa in miniature’ in terms of the snake’s fauna, “says our expert.
The tradition dates back to the time of colonization, precisely to the establishment of the Pasteur de Kindia Institute in 1922. The goal was to breed chimpanzees to serve as guinea pigs, as evidenced by this monument to the dead, where we find this inscription: “Here lies Tarzan, the chimpanzee servant of science. “
“West Africa was a reserve of primates,” explains Professor Mamadou Yero Boiro, Director General of Irbag. “We took them on boats, some were sent to Latin America.”
Upon independence, the center was nationalized and Soviet cooperation took over. In 2014, when the Ebola epidemic was at its height, it set up a laboratory and a treatment center there. The center was able to double its activity.
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