Photo provided West Liberty University Professor Joseph Horzempa works in his lab.

WEST LIBERTY — A West Liberty University microbiology professor is helping the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

This past week it was announced Joseph Horzempa played a role in bringing a Chinese device used to fast-track testing for the coronavirus to the United States through his work with an enterprising WLU alumnus.

Horzempa believes the country could be seeing a downturn in coronavirus cases soon as the stay-at-home and social distancing orders appear to be working.

“I certainly hope so,” he said. “It is just one of those fluid situations that is hard to predict, and hard to say. I think everybody is doing their part. I don’t think anyone enjoys staying at home and social distancing.

“But from the data I’ve seen, it seems to have slowed down the spread dramatically.

“I’m like everyone else. I hope this ends sooner rather than later.”

Horzempa has assisted WLU alumnus Fred Kinder with bringing the EZ NAT rapid detection device to America. This tester detects pathogenic microbes such as COVID-19 from patient samples — through nasal swabs, sputum and other bodily fluids — in a matter of minutes.

Kinder does business throughout Asia, and was familiar with the rapid tester developed in China by Ustar.

Horzempa was approached by the Dean of the College of Sciences Karen Kettler in February, and asked to help Kinder to complete the FDA permit documents needed for the tester to come to America.

The necessary validation of the machine in America was completed through Horzempa’s contacts at Marshall University and Cabell Huntington Hospital.

Horzempa’s expertise is in molecular and microbiology, and he cautions he is not an infectious disease expert, but still can speak to the science of the disease.

“It’s a new strain of virus none of us previously had been exposed to,” he said.

“There is no herd immunity. We don’t have a vaccine for it.

“That’s why everyone is erring on the side of caution, especially concerning the severity of disease this virus can cause in certain populations. It is not anything you want to take lightly. That is why he agrees with shelter in place directives.

“If we look at projections, the mitigations have decreased the number of potential cases and deaths,” he said.

“We should listen to public health experts. As bad as everyone else, I want life to go back to normal. I think everyone has a role in this, and the people who follow trends in public health give the best advice they can.

“|I am going to try to support their decisions, and do my part to minimize disease in society.”