Why in the News?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of a Bio Safety Level 4 Containment Facility in Gandhinagar, describing it as a national health shield and a major step towards advanced health security and biotechnology.
What is a BSL-4 Facility?
- Bio Safety Level 4 is the highest level of biological containment
- Designed to handle extremely dangerous and lethal pathogens
- Pathogens are often
- Highly infectious
- Transmitted via air or contact
- Without proven vaccines or treatments
- Work conducted under strict international biosafety protocols
- Scientists wear positive pressure suits and work in sealed environments
Pathogens to be Studied at Gandhinagar Facility
- Ebola virus, Marburg virus, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus, Kyasanur Forest Disease virus, and Nipah virus
BSL Facilities in India
- Only civilian BSL 4 lab currently operational at National Institute of Virology
- Defence BSL 4 lab established by DRDO in Gwalior in 2024
- High security animal disease labs
- National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases with ABSL 3 plus
- International Centre for Foot and Mouth Disease with ABSL 3Ag
Prelims Pointers
- BSL 4 is the highest biosafety level
- Handles lethal and exotic pathogens
- Gandhinagar lab is
- Second civilian BSL 4 in India
- First fully state funded BSL 4 facility
- Supports One Health approach linking human and animal health
- Enhances India’s pandemic readiness and biotech capacity
| [2021] Consider the following:Â
1. Bacteria 2. Fungi 3. Virus Which of the above can be cultured in artificial/synthetic medium? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
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