Infectious Diseases Study Site Questioned

[ovidsen]

Source: Washington Post

The Department of Homeland Security relied on a rushed, flawed study to justify its decision to locate a $700 million research facility for highly infectious pathogens in a tornado-prone section of Kansas, according to a government report.

The department's analysis was not "scientifically defensible" in concluding that it could safely handle dangerous animal diseases in Kansas -- or any other location on the U.S. mainland, according to a Government Accountability Office draft report obtained by The Washington Post.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/26/AR2009072602857.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR

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Ya think??

[truthisfreedom]

1. Non-stop stupidity.

It's amazing.

[Budgies Revenge]

2. This was a pretty hotly debated issue around here

since our town was one of the five finalists. It didn't sound like a good idea then, and it sounds like an even worse idea now.

[mrs_p]

3. actually, no

this was for a BSL-3 facility if i recall. these are all over the place, especially where there is a large research-focused university. i find it interesting the various protests against a concentrated facility that would stress appropriate measures (and extra precautions) to contain pathogens. but, no one seems concerned (or seems to know) about the BSL-3 labs that have been around for years.

[Snazzy]

4. No it's bio safety level 4 (and 3) and pretty unique

since it is replacing the offshore Plum Island facility. There are pathogens which are not allowed by various laws to be on the mainland, and were only studied offshore. And they want to get into some new stuff too, yeehaw!

[mrs_p]

5. well, then i would be alarmed

thanks for the info - i looked in the article, but didn't see it