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More Forgotten Vials of Deadly Diseases Discovered

schwit1 (797399) writes FDA officials now admit that when they discovered six undocumented vials of smallpox in a facility in Maryland they also found 327 additional vials that contained dengue, influenza, and rickettsia. "FDA scientists said they have not yet confirmed whether the newly disclosed vials actually contained the pathogens listed on their labels. The agency is conducting a nationwide search of all cold storage units for any other missing samples. Investigators destroyed 32 vials containing tissue samples and a non-contagious virus related to smallpox. Several unlabeled vials were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing and the remaining 279 samples were shipped to the Department of Homeland Security for safekeeping." The FDA's deputy director is quoted with what might be the understatement of the year. "The reasons why these samples went unnoticed for this long is something we're actively trying to understand."

15 of 55 comments (clear)

  1. Homeland Security by VorpalRodent · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So, the department that pretends to keep me safe on airplanes is now also the one that pretends to keep me safe from deadly airborne pathogens?

    Why is the CDC not holding on to these for safekeeping? Their obvious failure here notwithstanding, I'd think that this is more their bailiwick than DHS's.

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    1. Re:Homeland Security by ColdWetDog · · Score: 2

      I think you meant to say:

      "the remaining 279 samples were shipped to the Department of Homeland Security for safekeeping"

      What could possibly go wrong?

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    2. Re:Homeland Security by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 2

      Hey, kudos to whomever diverted them from Ft. Detrick to the NIH, back in the day. Anonymous, forgotten hero.

      What I am wondering is: why do they even care whether the pathogens in the vials are actually what is on the labels?

      They're trying to verify one endangerment of pubic health by further endangering public health.

      I mean, they're not even saving money. Incinerate the lot, using the standard procedures for doing so, and have done with it.

    3. Re:Homeland Security by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 2

      What I am wondering is: why do they even care whether the pathogens in the vials are actually what is on the labels?

      They care because anybody can write a label saying "smallpox virus" and stick it on a vial. But if the vial actually *does* contain smallpox virus, then there were flawed procedures that let that virus be sent out to East Bumfuck with no records kept. And those flawed procedures might still be in place, in which case it is urgent that they get fixed.

  2. Did they check under the couch cushions? by gurps_npc · · Score: 4, Funny
    Because that's where half the small things I lose are.

    Keys, TV remote control, coins, vials of Ebola,

    --
    excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
    1. Re:Did they check under the couch cushions? by dissy · · Score: 5, Funny

      *cough* Well the bad news is I didn't find any vials of ebola in there *coughwheeze* just these empty vials ready for filling.

      The good news *coughhack* can I keep this $0.78 in change? I'm saving up *sneezecolorscolors* for a flu shot - not feeling so well suddenly *sneezecoughsplatter* for some unknown reason...

  3. Eventually... by twistedcubic · · Score: 2

    ...they will discover Scully's tissue samples in that hidden file cabinet.

  4. Re:Smartphones by ArcadeMan · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you want to see a container with a pathogen in it, I could check my own fridge. There's something labeled "casserole 2003" but that can't possibly be right.

  5. does it surprise you? by ganjadude · · Score: 4, Insightful

    it seems the federal governments MO these days.
    first you lie "it was a movie!!!"
    when you get caught, you only admit the small details of what you got caught with "well, it was only a rogue agent, it was not sent down from above"
    then you drag it out as long as you can "we are having internal investigations to ensure this isolated incident does not ever happen again"
    Then you get caught in more than you initially got caught in "well, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE!!!!"
    then you make up more lies to cover up the lies that you got caught in to begin with (all while blaming the other political party for witch hunts, eventhough they have been right)

    This seems to be the case for the IRS, the DOJ, the FBI, the NSA, the white house etc. I would be more shocked if they told us no, that really was just a single vial, and it be truthful

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  6. Re:Thanks Obama! by Aryden · · Score: 2

    What the flying fuck does the Obama administration have to with this? It seems, the administration is now taking the CORRECT action about something that was actually done before he ever showed up on the political scene...

  7. Unsolved Anthrax Case? by karstdiver · · Score: 3, Interesting

    A quick search for "unsolved anthrax cases" turned up a WSJ article that mentions a facility in MD. I wonder if any connection between those cases and these "missing" vials?

  8. Re:Thanks Obama! by ganjadude · · Score: 2

    what does obama have to do with this particular instance? nothing (that we know of yet) however "the buck stops uhhh with me"~ obama words, not mine

    the problem is that his people (his federal agencies) refuse to be honest about anything. granted we dont know enough about this issue yet to place blame, and it is not something that was his fault as they have been there before he was elected. but the point remains every other day there is some issue at the federal level, and there is a subset of voters who want to give the federal government even more power

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  9. Re:Thanks Obama! by ganjadude · · Score: 3, Funny

    personally with the fuckup? nothing, but his agencies unwillingness to come forward with information when requested (or when it should be common sense to release information) is a joke. I wont blame obama for something that happened before he was born, but how it is handled when it comes to light is his problem as this is a federal agency.

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    have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
  10. I live in Atlanta and... by Kevin+Fishburne · · Score: 2

    Just about everything works like this, as in, fails to work. The Postal Service employee who delivers my mail often wears pajamas and nearly ran me off the road a couple of weeks ago with my two year old in the car. Hell, the Atlanta Braves are moving out of the city in a few years. Perhaps it's no coincidence that The Walking Dead is filmed in Georgia. All those zombie movies may have been more realistic than we imagined.

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  11. Re:Smartphones by aXis100 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I had a mate who kept a container of crushed pineapples in his fridge for about 7 years. We called it Alfred.

    It grew mould and went though all of the colours of the rainbow, in a magical cyclic dance of self sustainability. Then his sister came over one day and threw it out. :(