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Risk Of Labs Creating Bioterror Germs

Risk of labs creating bioterror germs

The United States is at increased risk for accidents at laboratories conducting research on potential bioterror germs, such as anthrax, because federal officials have failed to develop national standards for lab design, construction and operation, according to a report to be released Monday by the Government Accountability Office and obtained by USA TODAY. Meanwhile, another recent government audit has found significant failures by federal officials to detect security and safety violations during inspections of bioterror labs. The undetected issues included the transfer of anthrax and plague to an unauthorized facility, and allowing workers at multiple research facilities to remain on the job with expired security risk assessments. Security at bioterror labs has been an issue of particular concern since the 2001 anthrax letter attacks; a scientist at an Army biodefense lab was later implicated. Ref. USAToday

Germs Bioterror Creating Labs Risk

Pentagon admits mishandling more anthrax; samples sent to labs in Canada

The Pentagon has learned that additional samples of live anthrax were sent to three laboratories in Canada, two Defense officials confirmed Monday evening. The number of laboratories known to have mistakenly receiving samples of live anthrax has grown to at least 28 labs in 12 states and the District of Columbia. Ref. USAToday

Risk Of Labs Creating Bioterror Germs History & Civil Business Politics

A lot of movies are made about this kind of thing happening and you never believe it because you always felt that there were more stringent measures in place in real lfe. Then you read this and see the movies were right.

Edited: Raving on 2nd Jun, 2015 - 2:50pm

Germs Bioterror Creating Labs Risk

Pentagon: Ineffective radiation, poor testing led to Army shipping live anthrax

Investigation blames inadequate killing and testing of anthrax specimens as among the main causes of an Army lab mistakenly shipping live spores to dozens of labs in the U.S. And abroad for a decade, according to a military report released Thursday. Ref. USAToday

Germs Bioterror Creating Labs Risk

White House rolls out biolab safety reforms after anthrax mishandling incidents

Responding to high-profile incidents at labs working with dangerous bioterror pathogens, White House science advisers have issued a series of recommendations to improve safety and set deadlines to ensure they happen. The action follows a series of serious incidents with specimens of anthrax, smallpox virus and a deadly strain of bird flu at federal labs during 2014. Ref. USAToday