BIOLAB: India Finishing Work on High-Security Biolab

Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011

photo courtesy of
nari-icmr.res.in

India's National Institute of Virology has almost finished work on the nation's first Biosafety Level 4 laboratory, which would conduct research on some of the world's most highly contagious and lethal pathogens, the Indian Expressreported on Tuesday (see GSN, Dec. 17, 2010).

The BSL-4 laboratory, located at the NIV campus in Pashan, is expected be operational no later than November. The laboratory is being built to the highest biosafety standards. Biosafety Level 4 laboratories are authorized to handle diseases for which there are no known cures, such as the Ebola and Marburg viruses. There are reportedly fewer than 40 such facilities on the planet (see GSN, Sept. 8, 2010).

"This laboratory will not just be the first in the country but the only one in entire Southeast Asia," NIV Director A.C. Mishra said.

Seven NIV researchers received instruction in the United States on how to safely manage a Biosafety Level 4 institution.

Mishra said multiple filter systems have been designed for the laboratory to prevent the escape of any disease material. The laboratory was designed with hermetic walls. All water and air that exits the facility is to be scanned for pathogen contamination. Samples of Ebola, anthrax and other diseases would be kept under strict security and site would be surrounded by an electrified fence.

Additionally, 12 protective suits, each with a personal oxygen line, have been shipped from Italy for use by laboratory scientists.

"Virologists are always the first responders in case of any outbreak. Viruses can be used as a bioterrorism agent and the BSL-4 laboratory has been designed in such a way that it can detect the virus and counter any bioterror attack," Mishra said (Anuradha Mascarenhas, Indian Express, Aug. 2).  Read more

BORDER CONTROL: Dramatic Increase in Indians Entering U.S. Illegally

There has been a dramatic decrease in the past three years in illegal immigration into the United States -- but the same years saw a dramatic increase in illegal immigration from one country: India; in May, DHS secretary Janet Napolitano told a Senate committee that at some point this year, Indians will account for about 1 in 3 non-Mexican illegal immigrants caught in Texas; experts say that at least one reason is that, beginning in 2009, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua no longer require Indians to obtain a visa before entering any of the four Central American countries, making it easier for smugglers to bring Indians there, and from there to the United States

Illegal immigrants recently released from detention // Source: sikhnet.com

The overall number of illegal immigrants entering the United States has fallen dramatically over the last three years, but one group of immigrants is growing by leaps and bounds: illegal immigrants from India.

Between October 2009 and march 2011, for example, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested at least 2,600 Indiana — which is a major increase over the more typical 150 to 300 illegal immigrants from India arrested every year until then. Rosendo Hinojosa, chief of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley Sector, at the southernmost tip of Texas, which is the most active nationwide for apprehending Indian nationals, told Fox News: “Being the businessmen they are, they need to start looking for ways to supplement that work.”  Read more

TERRORISM > Blasts Expose Mumbai's Vulnerability to Terrorism

photo/image courtesy of gulte.com

Officials: Blasts Expose Mumbai's Vulnerability to Terrorism

Kurt Achin Kerala, India July 5, 2011
Investigators are examining forensic evidence and surveillance video, as they hunt for clues into the bomb blasts that hit Mumbai on Wednesday. The attack killed 17 people and wounded more than 130 others. As the criminal probe continues, Indian leaders are facing public anger and calls to make the country's financial capital more secure against the threat of terrorism.Kurt Achin | Kerala, India July 15, 2011

Police pressed ahead with their investigation of the deadly string of bombings, but announced no new leads Friday. There have been no claims of responsibility since the series of blasts hit Mumbai two days ago.

After comforting hospitalized victims in person at area hospitals, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh vowed a comprehensive response to the attack.

"We have to make collectively every effort," said Singh. "There has been remarkable coordination of effort between the centre and the state government. Now our task is to find out who the culprits are, and how we can work together to bring them to book."

State and national leaders are facing public anger at what many describe as another failure to protect crowded Mumbai areas from terrorism. In addition to deadly siege on the city in November 2008, terrorists have repeatedly targeted the city over the last two decades in bombings similar to those seen this week.

The chief minister of India's Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, says the government is looking seriously at communication failures that were exposed following this week's blasts.

Prithviraj Chavan told reporters on Friday that he could not get in touch with subordinates for 15 minutes after the explosions, while mobile networks were overwhelmed with other traffic. The chief minister says the state is now considering a separate official network, possibly including reserved satellite phone lines.

Indian Cabinet Minister Praful Patel says authorities must find ways to better protect Mumbai's dense population, particularly because the country's economic hub is an attractive target for those who want to impede India's growth.

"We cannot look at it as a permanent disability," said Patel. "We will have to find ways and means to stop these terror attacks."

Pakistan, which India blames for Mumbai's last terror attack in 2008 has denied any involvement in Wednesday's bombings. Indian authorities are currently pursuing all leads including the possibility that home-grown terrorist groups or the city's criminal gangs were involved.  

Mumbai Attacks > Quick Take Video Analysis

[A quick 2:40 video on Mumbai attacks (click here to view video) by Analyst Reva Bhalla of STRATFOR. She explains how the July 13th bombings differ from the 2008 Mumbai attacks and how they could complicate U.S. negotiating efforts in South Asia.]