11 hours ago
World's most deadly diseases will be kept at new Surrey lab
The world's most dangerous diseases will be researched at state-of-the-art laboratories in Surrey.
The brand new National Biosecurity Centre in Weybridge will aim to prevent future pandemics by keeping various incurable and fatal viruses in its facilities.
It will be handed the highest classification of lab biosecurity, allowing researchers to study the deadliest diseases, known as biosafety level four pathogens, which include Ebola.
This upgrade in rating gives it the same classification as the UK Healthy Security Agency base at Porton Down.
But operations in Weybridge will take on a much wider scope, with the facility set to analyse a range of infected farm animals, not just rodents.
The facility will also help prepare for the possibility of a terror attack involving biological weapons.
Staff at the site will do their research in special self-contained suits with their own air supply, air locks, negative air pressure and disinfection showers, allowing them to safely handle the dangerous viruses.
They will also analyse currently unknown diseases including Disease X, a hypothetical pathogen that will lead to the next pandemic.
On Monday, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs announced it would fund the labs with £1billion of taxpayer money, part of a larger £2.8bn revamp of the Government's premier animal disease centre.
It comes after warnings from the National Audit Office that the Government was not properly prepared for a major outbreak of animal disease.
Such diseases include bird flu, bluetongue and African swine fever and can pose serious threats to England's farming sector, food security, and wildlife, and are a major and increasing risk to public health.
About 60 per cent of all known human infectious diseases can be transmitted from animals to people, and three quarters of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals, officials warned.
The 'record' investment will complete the redevelopment of the crumbling animal science facilities at Weybridge, which the National Audit Office (NAO) recently warned was at 'very high' risk of site failure.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: 'The first role of any Government is national security.
'That is why we are making a record investment into the nation's biosecurity capabilities and, in turn, our national security, after years of chronic underfunding.
'Farmers and food producers will now be better protected from diseases, our food security strengthened, and public health better safeguarded against future pandemics.'
Jenny Stewart, senior science director at the Animal and Plant Health Agency, which runs the labs, said the funding was a 'vital milestone' in the delivery of the new facilities.
'Our scientists and specialists at Weybridge are at the heart of the UK's disease surveillance and response capability and provide a global centre of expertise,' she added.
'Investment on this scale will enable them to continue their critical work in modern, fit-for-purpose facilities, supported by the very latest technologies.'
The Government said work was already under way at the Weybridge site, with the first interim labs to support science ready in 2027 and 2028, and the national biosecurity centre due to be operational in 2033-34.
