The Pentagon has admitted that it accidentally sent live anthrax samples to as many as nine laboratories across the country and to a U.S. Military Base in South Korea.
Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium, Bacillus Anthracis, in which most of its forms are lethal, affecting mostly animals.It is not contagious but can be transmitted through contact or consumption of infected meat.
The U.S. military said 22 military personnel at the Osan Air Base in South Korea are receiving preventive treatment after being possibly exposed to the sample.
Four civilians are also receiving treatment in the U.S. – although authorities say they face a “minimal risk”.
Pentagon Spokesman, Colonel Steve Warren, said “the sample was destroyed in accordance with appropriate protocols”.
Experts in bio-safety said they are astonished by the lapse and called for greater precautions.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has begun an investigation into the incident.
Colonel Warren said, “Out of an abundance of caution, the Defence Department has stopped the shipment of this material from its labs pending completion of the investigation”.
CDC spokesman, Kathy Harden, said that samples involved in the investigation will be securely transferred to CDC or affiliated laboratories “for further testing”, Ms Harden said that the CDC has also sent officials to the labs “to conduct on-site investigations”.
