On Wednesday, Pentagon officials again raised the number of laboratories that were sent suspected live anthrax samples to at least 51 in 17 states plus Canada, Australia, and a U.S. military base in South Korea. That number will probably rise again, said Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work, but "we know of no risk to the general public." The mistaken shipments of live anthrax dates back to 2005 or 2006, but the Pentagon only became aware of them on May 22.
No lab workers have shown symptoms of anthrax exposure, which can be fatal, but 31 are being monitored and treated with antibiotics or the anthrax vaccine. The anthrax spores in the samples were supposed to be killed by gamma rays before shipping from Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, and after they weren't, they were either not tested or improperly tested. After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has completed its investigation into the mishaps, Work said, the Pentagon would hold people accountable for the errors.
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