Seventy-five per cent of human diseases are those passed from animals to humans – called zoonotic diseases. The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) is a high biocontainment facility, established in 1985, and the only facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere able to work with such pathogens.
While there is no current research on live bats at ACDP, research into bats underpins much of our understanding of zoonotic diseases. CSIRO undertakes all research in accordance with strict biosecurity and legislative requirements.
CSIRO’s collaborations with research organisations from many countries around the world are helping drive global effort forwards to human diseases prevention and management. As with all partners, CSIRO undertakes due diligence and takes security very seriously.