The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) posted an advisory regarding requirements for all research labs with efficiently transmissible, engineered H5N1 virus. All virus of this type is now categorized as a Risk Group 4 human pathogen (highest level) and research can only occur at Containment Level 4 (highest level) physical containment. Before genetic engineering, the H5N1 virus was classified as a Risk Group 3 human pathogen and research could occur at Containment Level 3 physical containment.
