Scientists who handle some of the most deadly substances in the world have described the ‘trepidation’ they felt when starting to research coronavirus.
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at the secretive Porton Down, near Salisbury, has been helping in the fight against the disease ever since the pandemic began.
Founded in 1916, the unique and expansive high-security site in the middle of the Wiltshire countryside is the oldest chemical warfare research centre in the world.
Its highly trained scientists are, with strict safety measures in place, used to handling some of the most dangerous known substances like Ebola, Anthrax, the nerve agent Novichok and plague – all of which are highly dangerous and deadly.
Inside the corridors housing high containment laboratories – split into four categories according to how hazardous the chemicals and pathogens inside are – staff have also turned their skills to tackling coronavirus.
Scientists who handle some of the most deadly substances in the world have described the ‘trepidation’ they felt when starting to research coronavirus. Pictured: Amanda Phelps, a virologist with more than 20 years’ experience working in high containment labs
Its labs are being used to study the traits of how the virus survives, with the results helping to advise the military and Government.
While there was some ‘anxiety’ in working with a new virus, scientists revealed how they felt proud to ‘step up’ and be at the forefront of cutting edge science which could help keep people safe.
In an interview with the PA news agency, which was granted rare access to the site, Amanda Phelps, a virologist with more than 20 years’ experience working in high containment labs, said: ‘There’s always some anxiety with something new because you don’t know necessarily how you might expect it to behave.
‘Most of the viruses that we have worked on for a number of years, we understand them very well. We understand how they grow and how they will…
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