ABNA24 - In recent aerial attacks that were carried out in multiple stages, with the last one occurring on March 23, 2026, blast waves and shrapnel caused serious damage to few units of the central buildings of the Pasteur Institute of Iran in Tehran downtown.
Unfortunately, some buildings were completely destroyed in these attacks, and the collapse of equipment and instruments in other buildings and laboratories created serious challenges for the continued operation of this valuable and national institution.
It should be noted that the damaged complex, covering 23,000 square meters, includes:
- 13 national reference laboratories (including laboratories for COVID-19, monkeypox, rabies, Escherichia coli, arboviruses and viral hemorrhagic fevers, malaria, pertussis, plague, tularemia, Q fever, biochemistry, chemical protein, and prenatal diagnosis)
- 3 partner reference laboratories (including hepatitis, AIDS, and influenza laboratories)
- 8 health laboratories (including tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, toxoplasmosis, brucellosis, anthrax, botulism, brucellosis, and fungal disease laboratories)
- 23 research departments
- 2 World Health Organization partner centers
- 3 biological banks
- 3 research networks
- 3 research centers
- 1 vaccination unit
- 1 food and drug administration-approved laboratory
Moreover, 110 faculty members, more than 400 experts and non-faculty staff, and 80 doctoral students were working and studying in this institution. Fortunately, no harm came to them during these attacks.
With utmost regret for witnessing such damages, the management of the institute has emphasized that based on preparations made in advance, the main diagnostic activities of the Pasteur Institute of Iran will continue at other branches of the institute.
The Pasteur Institute of Iran was established in 1920 and is the country's oldest health and medical institution. The current damaged building was endowed to the Pasteur Institute of Iran in 1924 by the late Abdol-Hossein Mirza Farmanfarmaian, and some parts of the institute's old buildings are registered as cultural heritage. This institution is a member of the Pasteur Network, which, with 33 member institutes worldwide, has been at the forefront of the fight against infectious diseases for over a century. The Pasteur Network members function according to a shared mission in the areas of applied research, public health, and social responsibility.
During its glorious history, the Pasteur Institute of Iran has been a pioneer of productions of various vaccines and detection kits as well as the establishment of specific detection laboratories based on genuine needs of the society. It has also been on top of controlling diseases such as smallpox, cholera, plague, recurring fevers, rabies, tuberculosis, hepatitis, viral hemorrhagic fevers and COVID-19 while monitoring emerging and re-emerging diseases.
Moreover, by training specialists in domains of basic sciences, public health, detection of Infectious diseases and vaccine production, the institute has played a significant role in advancement of science and expertise of the public health workforce of the country.
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