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GlaxoSmithKline Released 45 Liters of Live Polio Virus

Posted by Soulskill on from the what-could-possibly-go-wrong dept.

ferespo sends this news out of Belgium: As reported to ECDC by Belgian authorities, on 2 September 2014, following a human error, 45 liters of concentrated live polio virus solution were released into the environment by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline in Rixensart city, Belgium. The liquid was conducted directly to a water-treatment plant (Rosieres) and released after treatment in river Lasne affluent of river Dyle which is affluent of the Escaut/Scheldt river. Belgium's High Council of Public Health conducted a risk assessment that concluded that the risk of infection for the population exposed to the contaminated water is extremely low due to the high level of dilution and the high vaccination coverage (95%) in Belgium.

10 of 209 comments (clear)

  1. Let's wait 28 days by cristiroma · · Score: 4, Funny

    And see what happens ...

    1. Re:Let's wait 28 days by ArcadeMan · · Score: 4, Funny

      Let's wait 28 weeks, then?

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    2. Re:Let's wait 28 days by aaron4801 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Don't worry. Europeans are helpless, but the Americans will come in to save the day.

  2. Re:I can't imagine how big of a boner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    That Wolf Blitzer has at the moment.

    I KNOW, RIGHT?!?!?!!! teehee hee hee giggle giggle *SNORT*

    Signed,
    Anderson Cooper

  3. Re:Imagine the punishment it it killed millions by BitterOak · · Score: 1, Funny

    This is Europe, so probably around six months in prison.

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  4. Homeopathy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Homeopaths claim that a very diluted concentration of something harmful can actually be used to treat the symptoms it causes. So GlaxoSmithKline has just created the most potent homeopathic remedy for polio known to man!

  5. Too bad it wasn't Los Angeles by JoeyRox · · Score: 4, Funny

    Would have been useful to takeout all the mindless celebrities who don't vaccinate their children and thus assure a healthier society for us all.

  6. Re:These viral samples need to come with their own by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... palace guard. Some sort of possibly armed unit that literally controls who has the virus from one moment to the next.

    Right. Because this expensive and complicated solution would have prevented all zero of the infections that resulted from this release.

  7. Re: These viral samples need to come with their ow by mythosaz · · Score: 3, Funny

    What bad stuff happened?

    The solution to pollution is dilution.

  8. Re:Booster shots by wirefarm · · Score: 5, Funny

    You could call this "viral marketing"?
    (sorry.)

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