In a January 21st posting on the website of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Kenneth R. Burton, Coordinator of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBADF) provided an update on progress.  It was planned for the Department of Homeland Security to hand over the facility to the USDA in December 2020.  Due to delays caused by COVID-19, completion of the $1.25 billion facility will take place during the first quarter of 2021, but construction will continue over the next two years.

 According to Dr. Burton, research currently conducted at the Plum Island Research Center, NY. will be transferred to the Kansas NBAF facility by the end of 2023.  Currently Plum Island conducts research into foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever and African swine fever and other exotic diseases.  The move to the NBAF laboratory will allow expansion of studies beyond BSL-3Ag level, currently the restraint at Plum Island.  Access to BL4Ag will allow additional studies on Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever, NIPAH virus and emerging zoonotic infections.

The NBAF will extend the current training programs conducted at Plum Island especially in the areas of diagnosis of exotic diseases.

The NBAF will interact with the World Organization for Animal Health, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network in the U.S. It is anticipated that NPAF will cooperate with the private sector to develop biologics and pharmaceutical products.

Ultimately the Plum Island facility will be decommissioned and the property will then be sold.