An unlicensed California laboratory contained various infectious viruses, such as COVID, HIV, and Herpes, to name a few, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC.
The local authorities have been investigating the mysterious warehouse in Fresno County, suspected to have a lab full of mice.
Unlicensed California Lab Filled with Hazardous Substances
Authorities uncovered an unlicensed Fresno laboratory, a potential hotspot for illegal and hazardous experiments. As per NBC News, a joint investigation between the local and federal authorities looked into a facility in Reedly. The mysterious warehouse allegedly handled dangerous pathogens, including COVID-19, HIV, Herpes, and an assortment of other deadly viruses.
The Fresno County Public Health Department Assistant Director Joe Prado discloses that they have been investigating the mysterious lab. He says the health department "has been evaluating and assessing the activities of an unlicensed laboratory." He further revealed that they destroyed all biological agents last July 7.
The court documents disclosed "certain rooms of the warehouse were found to contain several vessels of liquid and various apparatus." On top of that, the docs say, "Fresno County Public Health staff also observed blood, tissue, and other bodily fluid samples and serums." Besides these, the warehouse also houses suspected biological material and other vials of unlabeled fluids.
ABC 30 reports that a violation in 2022 shed light on an unlicensed facility in Reedly. Reedley City Manager, Nicole Zieba, says it all started in December last year after a garden hose ran through another property in the city. She says, "Our code enforcement officer really paying attention, driving down the street, sees something that looks out of place. Stops, knocks on the door, and lo and behold, we discover folks that are storing things."
Above these substances, the court documents also noted that hundreds of mice at the warehouse suffered inhumane conditions. The authorities found roughly 175 mouses dead. They euthanized the remaining 773 that were still alive.
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CDC Detects COVID, HIV, Herpes
Prado also revealed that the lab's owner allegedly tested those mice to check the effectiveness of their COVID testing kits. However, Your Central Valley Online reports that the authorities are still investigating the type of operations in the clandestine lab.
NBC News reports that the CDC went on to test the substances found in the unlicensed laboratory. The agency detected roughly 20 infectious agents, which alarmingly include the coronavirus or COVID, HIV, herpes, and hepatitis, the Health and Human Services revealed.
The investigation found that the Nevada-based firm Prestige BioTech rented the facility.
