The high end biosafety level-IV laboratory (BSL) facility build at Pune by Klenziod, the U S based industrial water treatment company, has been established by the Indian council for medical research (ICMR) with support from department of science & technology, ministry of science and technology, government of India. The creation of such a facility in India is expected to boost outbreak investigations and research on various viral diseases.

The project was completed with contributions from large number of scientists, doctors and officers of the department of health research (DHR), ICMR, DST, director and scientists of national institute of virology (NIV), Pune national and international advisers. A total of 16 new; 14 (BSL)-II and 2 BSL-III laboratories have been so far set up for working on viral diseases and tuberculosis (TB) in the country.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the BSL IV Lab in December, 2012, Ghulam Nabi Azad, the union minister for health and family welfare had mentioned that the enhancement in the capabilities of the institution through BSL IV infrastructure is going to be of crucial importance and substantive help to not only India but also to other countries in the region.

The NIV, Pune, where the laboratory has been set up, has played a flagship role in investigations of the diseases of national and international concern such as SARS and Avian Influenza, besides the Influenza A H1N1 pandemic. The institute has been known for its tremendous work on research and management of infectious agents including viruses. It continues to do excellent work on viruses which are transmitted by vectors including mosquitoes, ticks and mites. The organizations have done laudable contributions on Hepatitis, Influenza and several other different viruses causing acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in the recent years.