Missing virus vial raises concerns at UTMB facility (hemorrhagic fever)

Houston Chronicle ^ | 3/24/13 | Erin Mulvaney

[markomalley]

A vial containing a potentially harmful virus has gone missing from a laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch, officials said.

The missing vial, which contains less than a quarter of a teaspoon an infectious disease, had been stored in a locked freezer, designed to handle biological material safely, within the Galveston National Laboratory on UTMB's campus, officials said. During a routine internal inspection last week, UTMB officials realized one vial of a virus called Guanarito was not accounted for at the facility.

Scott Weaver, the laboratory's scientific director, said Guanarito is an emerging disease that has caused deadly diseases in Venezuela. The federal government prioritizes it for research because it has the potential to be used a weapon for terrorists.

On Tuesday, an investigator discovered that only four out of five vials were stored of the virus in the grid system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was notified immediately.

Lab officials searched but has not been able to locate the other vial.

[markomalley]

Obviously caused by sequestration.

[Arthurio]

[jeffc]

Uh-oh. Did someone in the zero admin read Tom Clancy's Executive Orders and think, "Hey! What a neat way to declare a national martial law! Let's do it!!"? I wouldn't put it past that loose screw himself.....

[basil]

Good grief! This is where I got my degree in nursing!

[bitterohiogunclinger]

We were warned of the hazzards of “Gone to Rita” in those training films many years ago.

[Jyotishi]

You saw Fast & Furious, get ready for Fast & Virus.

[PAR35]

Any Muzzies work there?

[no-to-illegals]

bkmark

[Sioux-san]

Probably, but this is Texas, so it’s obviously George Bush’s fault.

[null and void]

Bring Out Your Dead

Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.

The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.

So far the false positive rate is 100%.

At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.

*sigh* Such is life, and death...

[Chode]

i guess Gone Missing is newspeak for stolen...

[bigheadfred]

otta get a kick to nut-job now that Chavez is dead...

Guanarito is an emerging disease that has caused deadly diseases in Venezuela....The federal government prioritizes it

[sfimom]

Add me to your list please.

[Former Fetus]

Officials suspect that the virus was likely destroyed during the normal laboratory decontamination and cleaning process

Of course, why didn't I think about that? /s

[autumnraine]

null’s is the best ping list on FR. Except for LucyT’s. ;o)

[null and void]

Done.

[muir_redwoods]

Oh, I wouldn’t worry about it...

[null and void]

Awwwwwww... *blush*

[Grams A]

Good grief! This is where I got my degree in nursing!”

Good grief! That’s not far from where I live!

[null and void]

If you suddenly break out in boils and spurt blood from every fold, wrinkle and orifice, post a vanity to warn us wouldja?