The Center for Disease Control has closed its influenza and anthrax labs and halted sample shipments after two incidents in which avian flu virus was cross-contaminated and a number of researchers were exposed to anthrax. While finalizing the report, it made an even more worrying finding: months before, in March, a sample of low-pathogenic avian flu virus had been accidentally contaminated with the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus and shipped to another lab. The contamination was confirmed in May, but news didnt make it up the CDCs chain of command until July 9th. Neither incident, according to the report, appears to have caused lasting damage.
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