In a historic event for science and public health in Argentina, the Government of Javier Milei announced today the launch of the first Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) laboratory in Latin America, located at the Biological Containment Center Operational Unit of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases ANLIS “Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán”.
The announcement, made by the Minister of Health, Mario Lugones, through his X account, marks a turning point in Argentina's healthcare capacity to face biological threats.
“WE ARE STRENGTHENING BIOSAFETY AND BIOCUSTODY TO GUARANTEE HEALTH SECURITY,” stated Lugones, emphasizing that the new facility will expand the country's ability to anticipate and contain health emergencies such as pandemics or bioterrorism attacks.
According to the minister, with this inauguration Argentina is placed at the scientific forefront of the continent, in a position that it only shares with the United States.
The BSL-4 laboratory represents the highest international category in biological safety, capable of handling high-risk infectious agents that can cause severe diseases without widely available treatments or vaccines. Among the pathogens that can be studied are viruses such as Ebola, Marburg, hantavirus, and various hemorrhagic fevers.
