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US authorities are investigating as possible to release a lethal bacteria in a high-security laboratory within a primate center of Tulane, Louisiana, and officials have announced that there is no risk to the public, according to USA Today in the website.
According to the newspaper, a type of bacteria dangerous, sometimes lethal, who lives in soil and water was released from a high security laboratory of the National Center for primate research. Cause of issue and extent of contamination remains unknown, despite the efforts of several weeks by multiple federal agencies and state-level write publication.
The incident caused concerns about possible contamination with bacteria that land in the vicinity of the plant, and despite initial tests, limited, did not detect it, some officials pressured, backstage, for stronger action, according information cited by the newspaper.
The breach in security complex at Tulane massif, located about 55 miles north of New Orleans, is just one of a number of significant accidents in biosafety, recorded some of the most prestigious laboratoatoare, which conducts research on some bacteria and viruses classified as potential bioterrorist agents.
"The fact that they can not identify what took place this release is very worrying," said Richard Ebright, a biosecurity expert at Rutgers University in New Jersey, heard in Congress last summer, following laboratory incidents federal agencies involving anthrax, smallpox and a deadly strain of bird flu.
Tulane incident involving the release - possibly in November or earlier - a bacteria - Burkholderia pseudomallei called - which is mainly in Southeast Asia and northern Australia and is transmitted to humans or animals through direct contact with soil or water contaminated, in which he lives.
Research at Tulane, stopped by federal officials were part of an effort to develop a vaccine against the bacteria. They were rodent in a biosafety level 3 laboratory, involving multiple security measures which allegedly should have exit to prevent pathogen.
Despite these measures, at least four macaques - not exprimente never used and were kept in a cage outside, in another part of the installation of over 200 hectares - were exposed to the bacteria, according to initial tests. Two of the monkeys fell ill in November and eventually were euthanized.
Meanwhile, a federal investigator became ill within 24 hours after visiting the facility in January, in the ongoing investigation. She tested positive after exposure to the bacteria, but it is unclear whether exposure occurred during a trip abroad or in the laboratory.
"We take this extremely seriously. It is very worrying for us," said Andrew Lackner, director of Tulane primate center. "From the beginning I spent enormous amounts of time trying to figure out how this happened," he added.
According to Lackner, the survey shows that the four macaques were exposed bacteria while receiving veterinary care hospital complex. He stressed that tests on 39 soil samples and 13 water inside center did not detect the presence of bacteria.
"There was never a threat to public sănătţii" insisted Lackner.
Despite these assurances, studies - which USA Today wrote that he had access - shows that too few samples were taken to detect a bacterium highly elusive.
Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, who heads the joint efforts of the federal and state level, and expressed concern "if the body left the complex and where domestic and farm animals are in danger, "a letter on February 20 federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The state issued a copy of USA Today Friday newspaper states.
In this letter, the authorities formally requested the help of EPA on potential soil contamination that were macaques, including the testing and provision of assistance "to purify the soil in the area (s) identified as high risk as quickly as possible to prevent expansion drives / transfer ".
Primate center is Covington, close to wetlands and a bad, across from a school and not far from a residential neighborhood.
USA Today writes that officials from both the state and federal level in response to questions that were addressed to them by e-mail, but did not give interviews.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), leading the investigation into the breach of the lab - because the bacterium is classified as a potential bioterrorist agent - said the investigation that is being carried out and that currently "there is no known threat to public health ".
US Department of Agriculture, participating in breach with the CDC investigation, said in an email that "USDA still assessing whether there is a risk to agriculture (state) Louisiana" .S
Source: mediafax
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