Fears rise along with 'hot lab' building boom

[Kadie]

Fears rise along with 'hot lab' building boom

PAUL ELIAS, AP Biotechnology Writer
Thursday, April 29, 2004


04-29) 20:36 PDT SAN FRANCISCO (AP) --

From Boston to Livermore, Calif., "hot labs" designed to combat bioterrorism and house the world's deadliest germs are being planned and constructed with a huge cash infusion from the federal government.

Supporters of the unprecedented building boom say the new or expanded high-containment labs -- there are at least 18 -- are essential to national security in a post-Sept. 11 world.

But as the labs rise on college campuses and government installations across the country, so do concerns about safety and security.

Neighbors fear that some frightening variant of Ebola virus, plague or other deadly disease could be loosed into their backyards, and are filing lawsuits and lobbying politicians to halt construction.

more... http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/04/29/national1811EDT0770.DTL

Where are we going to put these labs? Nobody wants them in their back yard.