Orissa to have High-Security Animal Laboratory.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) recently approved for the establishment of a high security laboratory at Jatni on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar to fight the foot and mouth disease that affects about 470 million domestic livestock annually, informed officials sources on Sunday.

The laboratory, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, is equipped with Bio-safety Level (3+) facilities, which will work for proper control and containment of virulent, pathogenic and mutagenic foot and mouth disease viruses. This facility expands the capability of researchers to conduct research on potential viral agents that do not currently have vaccines or therapies. It is applicable to clinical, diagnostic, teaching, research or production facilities. To prevent contact with the virus, scientists will wear special protective suits with filtered air supply and will work within airtight cabins in the lab.

The foot and mouth disease hits free-living and captive ungulates and elephants. The annual loss due to this disease in India has been estimated to be about $800 million. The laboratory will receive virus samples from all over the world and studies will be carried out on them. It will also serve as a repository unit for various serotypes. As the disease is contagious, measures for controlling its spread through vaccination, quarantine and supportive treatment is of importance.The State Government has already identified an area of 116.325 acres located 25 km from the State capital to be given to ICAR for the laboratory. The centre, which will also serve as a referral laboratory for the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), will be more technologically advanced than the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, informed a scientist. The Central Government will spend about Rs 1.25 billion for the initial work.