Biocontainment Facility Still Not Ready | Lawrence News

A $1.25 billion biocontainment facility in Manhattan, Kansas—meant to replace Plum Island and handle the most dangerous animal diseases—is still not fully operational three years after completion. Despite a July 2023 report from DHS claiming readiness, the USDA took over in February 2024 without a complete assessment, already spending $75.8 million fixing overlooked flaws like faulty air systems, unsealed rooms, and missing animal containment gates. Only biosafety levels one and two are active; levels three and four—critical for high-risk research—are still offline. The USDA aims to activate level three by end of 2026, but no timeline exists for level four, leaving vital science on hold. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/e2bf636e1b63a85f