Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Forbes.com:"Deadly Flu Virus Mistakenly Sent to Thousands of Labs"
Forbes.com::
-- HealthDay Staff
WEDNESDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- An influenza virus estimated to have caused the deaths of more than 1 million people in 1957 was mistakenly sent to thousands of laboratories around the world during the past few months.
Scientists, health organizations and governments are now attempting to have the killer virus destroyed before any of it is released, inadvertantly or otherwise.
The Associated Press reports that almost 5,000 labs in 18 countries, mostly in the United States received the virus, known as the H2N2 'Asian flu', in quality control test kits sent by Meridian Bioscience Inc. of Cincinnati. According to the wire service, the company manufactures influenza test kits that medical facilities use for quality control of flu vaccine.
The problem first surfaced, the AP reported, when a Canadian testing lab detected the deadly virus and notified health authorities.
A spokesman for the World Health Organization told the wire service no cases of the 1957 flu strain have been reported anywhere.
The strain's inclusion in flu vaccines was discontinued in 1968, so anyone born after then would be particularly susceptible, the official said.
The largest of groups receiving the test kits, the College of American Pathologists, told the wire service it had received 3,747 that were re-destributed to laboratories throughout the United States late last year and into February.
How did Meridian come into possession such a deadly germ? According to the AP report, Dr. Jared Schwartz, an official with the pathology college, said Meridian took a sample from the college's stockpile and selected the 1957 virus. Schwartz said the pathology college had received the strain from a 'germ library' in 2000.
As frightening as the mistake appears to be, government health officials said the risk for an outbreak is slight.
Dr. Nancy Cox, chief of "
-- HealthDay Staff
WEDNESDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- An influenza virus estimated to have caused the deaths of more than 1 million people in 1957 was mistakenly sent to thousands of laboratories around the world during the past few months.
Scientists, health organizations and governments are now attempting to have the killer virus destroyed before any of it is released, inadvertantly or otherwise.
The Associated Press reports that almost 5,000 labs in 18 countries, mostly in the United States received the virus, known as the H2N2 'Asian flu', in quality control test kits sent by Meridian Bioscience Inc. of Cincinnati. According to the wire service, the company manufactures influenza test kits that medical facilities use for quality control of flu vaccine.
The problem first surfaced, the AP reported, when a Canadian testing lab detected the deadly virus and notified health authorities.
A spokesman for the World Health Organization told the wire service no cases of the 1957 flu strain have been reported anywhere.
The strain's inclusion in flu vaccines was discontinued in 1968, so anyone born after then would be particularly susceptible, the official said.
The largest of groups receiving the test kits, the College of American Pathologists, told the wire service it had received 3,747 that were re-destributed to laboratories throughout the United States late last year and into February.
How did Meridian come into possession such a deadly germ? According to the AP report, Dr. Jared Schwartz, an official with the pathology college, said Meridian took a sample from the college's stockpile and selected the 1957 virus. Schwartz said the pathology college had received the strain from a 'germ library' in 2000.
As frightening as the mistake appears to be, government health officials said the risk for an outbreak is slight.
Dr. Nancy Cox, chief of "
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