More similar than different: A comparison of human and veterinary maximum containment facilities

Human maximum containment facilities-also known as biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratories-for zoonotic viruses such as Ebola virus or Nipah virus and veterinary maximum containment (BSL-4vet) facilities, e.g. for foot-and-mouth disease virus or peste-de-petits-ruminants virus, share many similar features but also differ in their design, standard operating procedures and operational requirements. This article summarizes the similarities and differences by addressing relevant aspects of these two types of maximum containment facilities. Construction and operation of both facilities is bound by strict regulations and regular audits by national or state authorities. The technical infrastructure is similar with respect to air handling, negative pressure differential to the outside and between rooms, as well as autoclaves and waste water handling. Both facilities require strict access control and training for entry into the area, which is more extensive on the human maximum containment side. Special personal protective equipment such as a positive pressure suits needs to be worn in the human maximum containment facility, but this is not generally necessary in veterinary facilities. Exiting the facility requires showering of personnel-a personal shower only in the veterinary containment and at least a chemical shower to decontaminate the suit in the human containment. Removal of samples from both kinds of facilities can only occur after application of strict and validated inactivation protocols. In addition, both facilities undergo room decontamination processes for maintenance or between animal studies. Overall, we would like to demonstrate that these facilities have more in common than expected at first glance and close coordination and cooperation between the individuals responsible for them is advisable.