National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility directors and research leaders invited Swine Health Information Center Board of Directors members and staff to tour the new facilities in Manhattan, Kansas, in late July. The tour and presentations provided insight into the new facilities’ abilities to achieve its mission of protecting the US livestock industry against transboundary, emerging, and zoonotic animal diseases. The team also explored potential collaboration to meet SHIC’s objectives of minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats through preparedness, and targeted research investments.
SHIC Board of Directors members Drs. Russ Nugent, Daryl Olsen, Jeremy Pittman, and Paul Ruen attended along with Executive Director Dr. Paul Sundberg and Associate Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder.
Per the USDA website, NBAF will replace the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, a biosafety level-3 facility. When complete, USDA Agricultural Research Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will transfer their research and diagnostic missions to NBAF and will jointly operate the facility. The USDA team at NBAF currently has access to the facility and started a phase of transition from Plum Island Animal Disease Center to the new site. NBAF is the first high-containment, biosafety Level 4 facility for livestock in the US, which will enable scientists to work on the most high-consequence zoonotic animal diseases — those that can infect both livestock and people.
Click here to see more...