Jun 25 2008
RamblerHow About a Bio-Weapons Lab in Your Town?
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has just released a large report containing its plans to build a mega bio-defense lab for scientists to study the Earth’s deadliest diseases. It seems it will be a real-life version of The Andromeda Strain.
Amazing? Exciting?
There is one small problem…leaks from the lab are expected to happen according to the report.
The department has also assessed the possibility of a terrorist attack resulting in the release of pathogens from the lab. This would involve the most infectious animal disease (Foot and Mouth) and those most deadly to humans (Hendra and Nipah viruses).
The overall risk assessment for a release at the five mainland sites was “moderate” because of “the potential easy spread of a disease through livestock or wildlife” nearby, according to a statement.
Plans are for the new lab to be built in 2010 and it will replace an existing bio-defense lab on Long Island. That lab is called the Plum Island Animal Disease Center and is considered outdated and no longer useful.
DHS wants its researchers to study “zoonotic diseases.” These are diseases that travel from animals to people (”bird flu”?). To do that they need a facility rated “bio-security level 4,” (the highest level). Plum Island is a level 3. Approximately ten percent of the new facility will be at level 4.
DHS is currently considering five possible sites in the mainland United States.
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