State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR

The State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, also known as the Vector Institute, is a biological research center in Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Oblast, Russia. It is roughly analogous to both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Army Chemical and Biological Defense Command. It has research facilities and capabilities for all levels of Biological Hazard, CDC Levels 1-4. It is one of two official repositories for the now-eradicated smallpox virus,[1][lower-alpha 1] and is part of the system of laboratories known as the Biopreparat.

Recently the facility has been upgraded and secured using modern cameras, motion sensors, fences, and biohazard containment systems. Its relative seclusion makes security an easier task. Since its inception there has been an army regiment guarding the facility.[1]

The facility has, at least in Soviet times, been a nexus for biological warfare research (see Soviet biological weapons program), though the nature of any ongoing research in this area is uncertain.

Accidents

In 2004 a researcher at VECTOR died after accidentally pricking herself with a needle contaminated with the Ebola virus.[2][3]

Fifteen years later, on 17 September 2019, a gas explosion occurred at Vector. One worker suffered third-degree burns, and the blast blew out window panes.[4]

See also

Notes
  1. The other repository is the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia.

References
  1. Nellis, Kathy (26 October 2007). "Smallpox Eradication Memories and Milestones". The Global Health Chronicles. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  2. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/17/blast-sparks-fire-at-russian-laboratory-housing-smallpox-virus
  3. https://slate.com/technology/2014/07/vector-institute-in-novosibirsk-siberia-where-russia-stores-its-smallpox.html
  4. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/17/blast-sparks-fire-at-russian-laboratory-housing-smallpox-virus


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