Inside the BSL4 facility at NBACC: Popular Science and Social Media

I was tipped off on twitter by BioBeers nube @SusanF826 about an article running in Popular Mechanics showing off the insides of the new BL4 facility at NBACC.  Those of you already following me either on FriendFeed or Twitter, this is already old news.  But for those not so early adapters, I think you’ll find it interesting (if you haven’t figured out how to go directly to the link via the hyperlink I inserted above).  The Abstract is rather sensational, but the rest of the article is quite informative.

Left: The air-lock entrance to the lab’s hot zone. Right: A biohazard suit protects Peter Jahrling, chief virus hunter at the Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick,

Virus Hunters: Inside Maryland’s New Biosafety Level 4 Lab

The swine flu has killed more than a hundred people in Mexico with reports of at least 40 infections in the United States. Could the flu cause a pandemic? Health researchers don’t think so now, but the Center for Disease Control still suggests Americans take precautions by washing hands, covering coughs and staying home if taken ill. Behind closed doors, the NIH continues to study dangerous diseases of all varieties, preparing to stop the next outbreak before it begins. PM got an early inside look at American’s newest infectious disease research laboratory, to see how scientists study the world’s deadliest pathogens.

Rather odd that they’ve tied the H1N1 “pandemic” on this project, as there is no connection what so ever (unless you believe this drivel).  Although there are cooperative arrangements between USAMRIID, NIAID and the CDC, there is not “swine flu” research going on in this facility.  But of course, the consipracy theorists will continue to insists this facility will be the demise of mankind and not play a role in saving it.