Australia opens new biosecurity lab
A new biosecurity laboratory which claims to be the most advanced in the world has opened in Geelong, Australia.
The new lab is part of the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL), which opened in 1985 with the aim of protecting Australia’s cattle industry from outbreaks such as foot and mouth disease.
“There is an urgent need to move forward with a ‘One Health’ approach, which links human, animal and environmental health professionals together,” said AAHL director Martyn Jeggo.
The urgency Mr Jeggo is referring to is that viruses are often jumping from animals to humans all over the world. Around 70% of emerging human diseases originate in animals.
The new lab, rated at ‘Biosecurity level 4’, was unveiled on 18 November 2011 by Australia’s science minster Kim Carr. The facility is equipped with real time connections so researchers around the world can be watching as part of a virtual lab.
