Researchers in the UK and the US found that three-quarters of the 59 biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) facilities around the world that handle dangerous pathogens have low biosecurity and biosafety levels, according to a new report.
The measurements are based the Global Health Security Index, which looks at whether countries have legislations, regulations, oversight agencies, policies and training on biosafety and biosecurity is put in place.
The 59 facilities include those in operation, under construction or planned, and span 23 countries, including the UK, US, China and India.
The team also notes that three-quarters of these labs sit in urban areas, more than half are government run and the rest are in universities.
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These facilities include those in operation, under construction or planned, and span 23 countries, including the UK, US, China, and India. The team also notes that three-quarters of these labs sit in urban areas, more than half are government run and the rest are in universities
Gregory Koblentz, an associate professor of biodefense at George Mason University, and Filippa Lentzos at King's College London, conducted the research to determine how many pass safety protocols.
DailyMail.com has contacted the researchers for more information and has yet to receive a response.
The team suggests that the World Health Organization should be responsible for the oversight of such facilities, in a bid to ensure all labs are up to par with current protocols.
'Our study also revealed that there was significant room for improvement in the
