Government scientists possibly exposed to anthrax, says CDC
Dozens of scientists at a federal lab in Atlanta may have been accidentally exposed to anthrax after failing to properly deactivate it. Up to 75 workers are being monitored for symptoms of the disease, though so far none have shown any signs of illness, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official told Reuters.
The potential exposure occurred when researchers did not adequately defuse live anthrax samples before transferring them to another less-secure lab, the CDC said. The CDC is investigating how the exposure was allowed to happen, and whether anyone should be disciplined for the breach of protocol.
Making sense of the week's political news, delivered every Wednesday
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.