The National Institutes of Health Blue Ribbon Panel released a final supplementary risk assessment Friday for National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories at Boston University’s Medical Center.
There will be a 30 day waiting period before the NIH makes a final decision on whether or not the risk posed by the lab is acceptable, according to the release.
During that time, the NIH will receive and consider comments from the public.
The laboratory, commonly referred to as the BU biolab, is expected to study dangerous and infectious Level 4 pathogens and diseases, such as anthrax, Ebola and pneumonic plague.
The lab poses a low risk to the public, according to the reader’s guide to the draft’s final report.
“While there is no such thing as ‘no risk,’” the reader’s guide stated, “the results of this analysis show that the risk of infections or deaths resulting from accidents or malevolent acts at the NEIDL are generally very low to only remotely possible.”
A reader’s guide for the 2,717 page final report has not yet been released.
The final report included an appendix of comments from the public and some responses to comments.
The biolab was completed in 2008, but has been protested and challenged legally, which caused the NIH to conduct its risk assessment.
In December, the state approved the biolab to begin research on less dangerous Level 2 diseases and pathogens, such as tuberculosis, while the report was being conducted.
Residents of Roxbury gathered in April to protest research of dangerous diseases in their neighborhood. Members of the community said they were unconvinced of the safety of the biolab.
Infections from SARS and 1918 H1N1 influenza could occur up to 5,000 years after operation, despite the facility’s 50 year lifetime, according to the draft reader’s guide.
Copies of the final supplementary risk assessment can be downloaded from the NIH website. They are also available at the Central Branch of the Boston Public Library, the South End Library, the Grove Hall Library and the Dudley Library.
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