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like make up a list of all of the United States' biosafety level 4 (BL-4) facilities. These are all the labs that work with the truly delightful pathogens, like Variola major (smallpox), Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic viruses, and a few other notable and upcoming viruses (mostly). At these sites, you don't get to touch anything, y'know, fun unless you're gowned up in a HazMat suit with a personal air supply, inside a negative-pressure room.
Why? Well, because the professor mentioned BL-4 facilities in class today, during her lecture on smallpox and related viruses, when the question arose about how we assessed whether our stocks of vaccine were ever tested for long-term stability and quality.
The short answer? We've five current facilities, with another 7 or 8 coming on-line in the next year.
Fun, no?
(I'm certain that DHS is even now back-tracking my IP address...)
Why? Well, because the professor mentioned BL-4 facilities in class today, during her lecture on smallpox and related viruses, when the question arose about how we assessed whether our stocks of vaccine were ever tested for long-term stability and quality.
The short answer? We've five current facilities, with another 7 or 8 coming on-line in the next year.
Fun, no?
(I'm certain that DHS is even now back-tracking my IP address...)
