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Accidents Happen — But Should They?

Posted November 13, 2007 8:28 AM

Dangerous accidents involving monkeypox, bird flu virus, plague causing bacteria, and anthrax sound pretty frightening don't they? In fact, they may be happening right now. Since 2003, accidents involving these entities have occurred at 44 labs in 24 separate states in the U.S. Considering the recent foot-and-mouth outbreak in Britain, these numbers would seem to be unacceptable. High security laboratories need to shore up their operating procedures when it comes to handling germs and organisms that have the potential to cause incurable illnesses, as this Associated Press report explains...

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Guru
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#1

Re: Accidents Happen — But Should They?

11/14/2007 3:44 AM

the procedures can be tightened but the weak link will always be the humans

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Guru
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#2

Re: Accidents Happen — But Should They?

11/14/2007 7:50 AM

The human link is indeed the weakest one.

Horse flue which has run riot in Australia NSW lately was allowed to escape from the government quarantine center for horses being operated by the very same people who are supposed to police it and put out the regulations applicable to disease control.This is a serious failure of protocols which should have been rigorously applied.

This is an indication of government departments which are failing at all levels in NSW do not have fully trained people running them its more like jobs for the boys over here and an excessive accumulation of bureaucrats who do not get down to the shop floor so to speak and see what is going on even then it is doubtful they could appreciate the problems if they did get there.

This might sound cynical but it is fact, Heaven help us if a pandemic hits I doubt the hospital system could cope.

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#3

Re: Accidents Happen — But Should They?

11/14/2007 10:53 AM

This year here in the UK a lab experimenting with bacteria and viruses let loose the organism responsible for Foot and Mouth dease in cattle, the results; Several hundred cattle had to be slaughtered in the vicinity of the research lab. Spencer.

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#4

Re: Accidents Happen — But Should They?

11/14/2007 1:04 PM

......and ,plague,cicken gunea , cholera, to name few are quiet dangereous if scatter in environment and grow out of control for isolation that kept them away from real environment ffor so many years , these mocrobes are equally dangereous or more compared to nuclear , hazerdeous chemicals and need respect when handled in labs , they can mutate , grow , leak through weekest link were other lifeless hazards can be prevented..........scary.....huhh

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#5

Re: Accidents Happen — But Should They?

11/21/2007 12:06 PM

This may well be a prime example of selection of the fittest (mentally) to survive. Smart enough to manipulate the pathogens, but not smart enough to leave them alone. While there "should" be engineering controls and procedural controls in place, we have the examples of Hanford, Rocky Flats, and so many other locations to remind us that human error can compensate for the best proactive measures.

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