Plans for a new laboratory at Nagasaki University to study deadly viruses like Ebola and Marburg have ignited fears of another pandemic in Japan.
Despite government reassurances, many residents and online users worry about potential leaks, likening the risk to that of an atomic bomb. Concerns are fueled by past speculation over the Wuhan lab’s involvement in the COVID-19 outbreak and Japan’s lack of domestic research facilities during the crisis.
The biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) facility, delayed for 15 years, is currently in trial mode without active virus research. Officials insist that strict safety protocols will prevent leaks, but public skepticism remains high, especially in light of Japan’s experience with the Fukushima disaster.
Critics, including manga artist Mayumi Kurata, have called on the government to address public concerns, while some skeptics have sarcastically suggested relocating the lab near political leaders’ residences if it is truly safe.
