If Burkholderia mallei samples are handled in a laboratory, what biosafety level is required?

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Burkholderia mallei is a risk group 3 pathogen that can cause serious disease and can spread through the air. Because of this, handling it requires enhanced containment to prevent inhalation and environmental release. BSL-3 provides the necessary controls: negative-pressure rooms, restricted access, and biosafety cabinets for procedures that generate aerosols; proper personal protective equipment with respirators; and procedures for safe handling, decontamination, and medical surveillance. This level is more protective than BSL-2, which is for moderate-risk organisms, and less extreme than BSL-4, which is reserved for the highest-risk agents with no effective treatments. BSL-1 is not appropriate for such a pathogen.