WUHAN, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Laboratory animals must be guaranteed preference for scientific research on the treatment of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19), said the science and technology department of China's virus-stricken province of Hubei.

Research institutions should give the development of COVID-19 prevention and control products priority use of lab animals, and lab animal producers should meet the demand of COVID-19-related research above others, said the department.

The department also stressed the importance of standard management and operation to eradicate any possibility of virus transmission.

Hubei is currently organizing emergency scientific researches on COVID-19 and has made some advances in virus culture, animal model establishment and vaccine development.