BL-4 labs

[Dr. R. Marusyk]

In response to Carl,s questions:
1  No. There are currently no other level 4 laboratories in Canada.
However, a level 4 laboratory is being constructed at the new Health
Canada Laboratory Centre for Disease Control (equivalent to the US CDC
labs in Atlanta) and Agriculture Canada complex in Winnipeg. As stated
in my previous post, the Winnipeg laboratory is NOT a research
laboratory and will be used by federal health and agricultural agencies
in a manner similar to the Toronto area lab - a safety device to be used
should a level 4 agent be found in, or imported into, Canada and require
investigation by either the LCDC or AgCanada staff.
2  No. There is not a direct equivalent of USAMRIID in Canada. The
equivalent type of defensive biological/chemical warfare research is
carried out in laboratories of National Defense Canada, particularly at
the Defense Research Establishment Suffield (DRES) located in southern
Alberta. Of interest is the fact that, contrary to the stated
opinion/belief of a number of concerned <spokespersons>, DRES does NOT
have a level 4 laboratory. Recent renovations at DRES have included the
construction of a new level 3 laboratory (to replace a very dated, and
non-certifiable facility) which, in Canada, is required for work with
Risk Group 3 agents (high individual risk, low community risk), e.g.,
the pulmonary syndrome Hantavirus isolates isolated in Western Canada.
3  There is a tripartite agreement between the defense research
establishments of Canada, the UK and the US for the exchange of relevant
information, with meetings called at various intervals. As well there
are occasional joint exercises for the field testing of new detection
systems (using innocuous non-biological markers).

In Canada, at least, all of the above is public information. To the best
of my knowledge, Canada is the only country which has a civilian
committee which regularly monitors the activities of the Defense
Research Establishments (the Biological and Chemical Defense Review
Committee, formed in 1990) and which issues a public report on its
findings and recommendations. The BCDRC has full access to all National
Defense establishments as well as access to all relevant documentation.
The yearly report is based on site inspections, inventory controls,
interviews with military and civilian staff and union representatives.
As well, the BCDRC requests and holds meetings with concerned citizen
action groups such as Science for Peace and the former Physicians for
Nuclear Disarmament group (I have forgotten the new name of this group).

I hope the above comments will be of interest.

Raymond G Marusyk
Professor of Virology
President, Canadian Society of Microbiologists
Member, Biological and Chemical Defense Review Committee (Canada)