High-Containment Facilities Handling Pathogenic Organisms in Belgium: An Overview

Abstract

Working with pathogenic organisms (genetically modified or not) requires the adoption of specific containment methods, protective measures, and safe work practices to avoid adverse effects on human health and the environment. In particular, special containment and protective measures must be adopted in laboratories where airborne pathogens that may cause serious or potentially high-consequence diseases due to accidental exposure are handled. Such high-level containment refers to laboratories and other facilities (e.g., animal facilities, large-scale production units) at containment levels 3 and 4 (CL-3, CL-4). These high-containment facilities are designed for the diagnosis, surveillance, and control of infectious diseases, for the study of pathogenic organisms, and for the preparation of vaccines. These high-containment facilities, therefore, play a critical role in ensuring a safe environment for workers and in protecting public health and the environment.

This article presents data received from notifications and reviews the progress achieved with the high-containment facilities in Belgium over the last 18 years. Since no CL-4 facilities existed in Belgium at the time of this study, this article relates only to CL-3 facilities. A critical review of the progress achieved within this area of activity is also provided.