High-Containment Biosafety Laboratories : DHS Lacks Evidence To Conclude That Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Can Be Done Safely On The U. S. Mainland

Book Description:

The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing to move foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) research from its current location on a federally owned island off the northern tip of Long Island, NY -- and potentially into the U.S. mainland. FMD is the most highly infectious animal disease that is known. A single outbreak of FMD on the U.S. mainland could have significant economic consequences. This report evaluates the evidence DHS used to support its decision that FMD work can be done safely on the U.S. mainland, whether an island location provides any additional protection over and above that provided by modern high containment labs. on the mainland, and the economic consequences of an FMD outbreak on the U.S. mainland. Illus.