CDC Wants A New Lab For The World’s Most Dangerous Germs

This Sep. 9, 2005, photo shows the then newly constructed 11-story Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory located at the CDC’s Roybal campus in Atlanta. Thirteen years after building the state-of-the-art lab for the world’s most dangerous germs, the nation’s top public health agency is asking for more than $400 million to build a new one.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention via AP

Thirteen years after building a state-of-the-art lab for the world’s most dangerous germs, the nation’s top public health agency is asking for more than $400 million to build a new one.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the current lab building in Atlanta is quickly wearing down, and cannot be upgraded without shutting down the facility for years. The lab investigates deadly and exotic germs like Ebola, smallpox and dangerous new forms of flu.

The agency disclosed its plans for a new lab on Friday.