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Highlights: #171 – Alison Young on how top labs have jeopardised public health with repeated biosafety failures
Nov 21, 2023
Investigative journalist recounts biosafety failures at top labs, including a smallpox incident at NIH. Covers uncovering the truth of a military lab accident and joint effort to hold accountable. Discusses balancing research and lab safety, oversight challenges, and need for regulation of privately funded labs.
22:54
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Quick takeaways
- Repeated biosafety failures in top labs have resulted in the mishandling and improper cataloging of deadly diseases, posing significant risks to public health.
- Lack of safety culture, resistance to safety protocols, and the absence of universal tracking systems contribute to a heightened risk of accidents in bio labs.
Deep dives
Accidental Discovery of Smallpox Vials
During the podcast, Allison Young discusses a case where vials of smallpox were found in an unlocked storage room at the National Institutes of Health. Smallpox, an eradicated and highly deadly disease, should only be found in two designated labs worldwide. The mishandling of the vials, improper cataloging, and careless transportation raised significant concerns over lab safety protocols and the potential risks associated with biosecurity.
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