De Faakto Intelligence Research Observatory
SITUATION-United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) Fort Detrick Lab Shut Down After Failed Inspection
BACKGROUND-Fort Detrick laboratory handles high level disease causing material-The laboratory has been ordered to cease operations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
From The Frederick News-Post & USAMRIID Press Statement,
Key Points,
- All research at a Fort Detrick laboratory has been put on hold indefinitely; the laboratory handles high-level disease-causing material such as Ebola
- Fort Detrick laboratory failed to meet biosafety standards
- Inspectors found several areas of concern in standard operating procedures, which are in place to protect workers in biosafety level 3 and 4 laboratories
- CDC sent a cease and desist order in July
- The order has effectively halted all biological select agents and toxin research at USAMRIID
What Are the Safety Problems?
- The suspension was due to multiple causes, including failure to follow local procedures and a lack of periodic recertification training for workers in the biocontainment laboratories
- The wastewater decontamination system also failed to meet standards
When Will the Laboratory Be Able to Resume Research?
- USAMRIID will return to fully operational status upon meeting benchmark requirements for biosafety
- Operations will resume when the Army and the CDC are satisfied that USAMRIID can safely and consistently meet all standards
- USAMRIID has been working on modified biosafety level 3 procedures and a new decontamination system since flooding in May 2018
What Were USAMRIID Scientists Working On When Ordered to Shut Down?
- Researchers were working with the Ebola virus in a biosafety level 4 lab
Researchers were also working on agents known to cause,
- Tularaemia (AKA deer fly or rabbit fever)
- The plague
- Venezuelan equine encephalitis
- All of which were worked on in a biosafety level 3 laboratory
About USAMRIID
- Since 1969, USAMRIID has served as the Department of Defense’s (DoD) lead laboratory for medical biological defense research
The core mission is to protect the war fighter from biological threats
- Investigate disease outbreaks and threats to public health
- Research conducted at USAMRIID leads to medical solutions—therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics, and information—that benefit both military personnel and civilians
- USAMRIID is a subordinate laboratory of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command
Resources
Frederick News-Post https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/health/fort-detrick-lab-shut-down-after-failed-safety-inspection-all/article_767f3459-59c2-510f-9067-bb215db4396d.html
United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases https://www.usamriid.army.mil/aboutpage.htm
