U.S. labs mishandling deadly germs

[seemslikeadream]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071002/ap_on_he_me/mishandling_germs

By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 30 minutes ago


WASHINGTON - American laboratories handling the world's deadliest germs and toxins have experienced more than 100 accidents and missing shipments since 2003, and the number is increasing steadily as more labs across the country are approved to do the work.

No one died, and regulators said the public was never at risk during these incidents. But the documented cases reflect poorly on procedures and oversight at high-security labs, some of which work with organisms and poisons so dangerous that illnesses they cause have no cure. In some cases, labs have failed to report accidents as required by law.

The mishaps include workers bitten or scratched by infected animals, skin cuts, needle sticks and more, according to a review by The Associated Press of confidential reports submitted to federal regulators. They describe accidents involving anthrax, bird flu virus, monkeypox and plague-causing bacteria at 44 labs in 24 states. More than two-dozen incidents were still under investigation.

The number of accidents has risen steadily. Through August, the most recent period covered in the reports obtained by the AP, labs reported 36 accidents and lost shipments during 2007 — nearly double the number reported during all of 2004.

Research labs have worked for years to find cures and treatments for diseases. However, the expansion of the lab network has been dramatic since President Bush announced an upgrade of the nation's bio-warfare defense program five years ago. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which funds much of the lab research and construction, was spending spent about $41 million on bio-defense labs in 2001. By last year, the spending had risen to $1.6 billion.

The number of labs approved by the government to handle the deadliest substances has nearly doubled to 409 since 2004. Labs are routinely inspected by federal regulators just once every three years, but accidents trigger interim inspections.

"It may be only a matter of time before our nation has a public health incident with potentially catastrophic results," said Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce investigations subcommittee. Stupak's panel has been investigating the lab incidents and will conduct a hearing Thursday.

[midnight]

1. Any D.U. posters work in a lab, and would you care to explain

how high the rate of error on your lab rates?

[hootinholler]

2. Just live near one

That is being expanded over the dissent of the city.

-Hoot

[tanyev]

3. "No one died...the public was never at risk"

That's an impressive key phrase to use on your annual evaluation.

[hootinholler]

4. All part of the grand plan...

Page 60 of Rebuilding America's Defenses (PDF)

And advanced forms of biological warfare
that can “target” specific genotypes may
transform biological warfare from the realm
of terror to a politically useful tool.

Few are aware of this simple statement in a scary document. I found a synopsis of the recent history of these sorts of agents, can't vouch for the source though, caveat emptor.

-Hoot