Report Reveals
Increase in US Lab Accidents Involving Deadly
Substances
[Posted 10/04/07]
An
Associated Press story released on October 2 states
that the number of accidents in US laboratories
involving dangerous germs and toxins is rising
steadily. There have been more than 100 accidents
and missing shipments at the labs since 2003, with
36 incidences reported between January and August
2007.
Information was obtained from confidential reports
submitted to federal regulators that documented
worker accidents involving skin cuts, needle sticks,
and bites or scratches by infected animals. The
incidents involved anthrax, bird flu virus,
monkeypox, plaque-causing bacteria, and other
dangerous substances at 44 labs in 24 states. The
public was never at risk according to regulators.
The number of labs approved to handle highly
dangerous substances has nearly doubled since 2004
in response to an expansion of the US bio-warfare
defense program. Routine inspections of the labs are
conducted every three years; interim inspections
occur when an accident is reported.
Medical experts consider it unlikely that a lab
employee will become sick and infect others, but
documents disclosed a number of incidents that
required workers to seek medical attention, undergo
quarantine, or wear masks to protect other workers
form potential exposure.
According to the AP, lab incidents are being
investigated by the House Energy and Commerce
Oversights & Investigations Subcommittee.
“It may be
only a matter of time before our nation has a public
health incident with potentially catastrophic
results,” said subcommittee chairman Rep. Bart
Stupak (D-Mich).
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