High-level lab in Winnipeg for studying dangerous pathogens to be beefed up
TORONTO — High-level containment labs at Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg are being expanded to allow scientists increased capacity to research some of the world’s most dangerous infectious diseases, federal Health Minister Jane Philpott announced Thursday.
Known as level-4 containment labs, they provide the highest degree of biosafety for diagnosing, researching and developing treatments and vaccines for high-risk pathogens like Ebola, Middle East respiratory syndrome and avian influenza.
Philpott said the federal government is investing $5 million to beef up level-4 containment labs within the NML, which is part of the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health. Construction of the expanded space is expected to be completed by 2020.
“The decision for this particular expansion is not in response to any specific new infectious threat,” Philpott said from Winnipeg, although increased capacity is considered critical for strengthening Canada’s ability to respond to both global and domestic public health threats.