CDC considers outside checks on bioterror labs

Kimberly Smith
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
June 26, 2012

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering having U.S. Army scientists or another outside agency inspect its bioterror labs in the wake of a USA TODAY report this month.

The agency plans to install safety equipment to address fire code violations from December 2010 that could trap workers in an emergency, an agency spokesman said Monday.

USA TODAY reported that the agency’s $214 million Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory in Atlanta has had repeated problems with airflow systems designed to prevent the release of infectious agents. The lab, also called Building 18, has a secure, high-containment block where experiments can be done on anthrax, monkeypox, dangerous strains of flu and other agents that have the potential to be used as bioterror weapons.

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This article was posted: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 9:32 am

Tags: domestic spying, science, technology, terrorism

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