[CPEO-MEF] BIODEFENSE: Ft. Detrick (MD) "mishaps"

[Lenny Siegel <LSiegel@cpeo.org>]

Developing safe science: Rising mishap reports result in procedural  
changes at Detrick labs


By Courtney Mabeus
Frederick News Post (MD)
March 11, 2012


An employee at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious  
Diseases working at Fort Detrick in 2010 was exposed to Western  
equine encephalitis when the live virus was transferred from one lab  
to another.

The virus, referred to as WEE, can cause flu-like symptoms, swelling  
of the brain, coma and death, according to the Centers for Disease  
Control and Prevention. WEE is one of many viruses handled in the  
Army's labs at Detrick, where researchers work with select agents and  
other hazardous chemicals to develop vaccines for the Department of  
Defense.

From slips on stairs and bumps on the head to more serious cases,  
including animal bites and needle sticks, more than 200 mishaps were  
reported at USAMRIID during 2010 and 2011, according to documents  
obtained by The Frederick News-Post under the Freedom of Information  
Act.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm? 
storyID=132959

--

Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

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