Explosion in a Russian laboratory containing samples of smallpox / Boing Boing



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An explosion and fire occurred at the Russian Research Center on Virology and Biotechnology (Vector), a facility near Novosibirsk, Siberia, which holds live samples of smallpox. Vector officials say that there is currently no risk of contamination. Vector and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are the only two licensed laboratories known for holding live smallpox specimens. The World Health Organization certified the eradication of smallpox in 1980 through a global vaccination effort. However, it remains to be feared that the deadly virus can still be used as a biological weapon. From CNN:

In its statement, Vector stated that no biohazardous material was stored in the room where the explosion occurred. The mayor of the city also insisted that the incident represents no biological or other threat to the local population, according to TASS …

Dr. Joseph Kam, an associate clinical professor at the Stanley Ho Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases (CEID), told CNN that the rules for storing viruses were very strict and that highly dangerous diseases such as Ebola and smallpox would be stored at the highest level "4". laboratory.

Access to the samples would be limited, special containers are used and the storage mechanism is different from that of other laboratories, Kam said.

He added that if the fire was hot enough to kill viruses, an explosion could spread the virus and infect those in the room or contaminate the immediate surroundings.

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David Pescovitz

David Pescovitz is the co-publisher of Boing Boing. On Instagram he is @pesco.

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