The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had decided to conduct an extensive review of how they implement safety in their laboratories, while an investigation is on-going. Tom Frieden, director of the CDC, instructed inspectors on how to carry out experiments with highly hazardous pathogens in certain labs, USA Today reported.
Earlier this month, USA Today reported that the CDC labs have issues with power consistency and the airflow system. These can be fatal - especially for labs that hold delicate elements and pathogens. When systems breakdowns occurred in 2013 and 2014, even the staff evacuation procedure failed and there were flaws in communication in times of emergency. The CDC provided few comments regarding the incidents,but explained that it was lightning that caused airflow issues and communication delays in July 2013, according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.
USA Today's report included not only these issues, but also several problems, such as the very highly likely exposure of workers, glitches in their supposedly protective body suits and unsecured laboratory doors. These problems lay on top of last year's problem with workers' exposure to the Bacillus anthracis and Ebola virus and the delivery of a highly deadly strain of the avian flu virus, according to CIDRAP.
The Department of Health and Human Services inspector's office ordered the names of the particular labs involved with the allegations and other undisclosed select-agent or virus lapses. These select-agents can range from viruses to toxins that can be used as biochemical weapons. The review will last 90 days and will be headed by Stephen Redd, the director of the Public Health Preparedness and Response, according to USA Today.
