A student-working in a fairly safe biolab (BSL-3) was transferring an Anthrax culture to a flask when the flask broke.
Cleanup was carried out without incident, and the student was given precautionary treatment and released. The public does not appear to have been endangered at any time; however, it is expected the "usual hue and cry" will arise from those who wish the US to avoid any experimentation with possible bio-agents, while turning a blind eye to outright weaponization by other governments.
As usual, there will be a germ of truth (pun intended) in the opposition outcry: labs are only as safe as the least safe worker assigned to them. In Britain, for example,careless handling led to the "release" of Foot and Mouth virus : an outbreak of which had near-disastrous effects on British livestock just a few years ago.
For heaven's sake, let's be more careful out there !!!
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