Spring Break
A&M under investigation after disease transmission
By: Candace Birkelbach
Issue date: 4/24/07 Section: News
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Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria brucella, which is typically transmitted by animals. The student was accidentally infected while cleaning a chamber used to infect mice with aerosolized brucella for research purposes on Feb. 9, 2006. The researcher told A&M officials of the brucellosis diagnosis on April 10 or 11, 2006.
The Select Agent Rule, a regulation to implement the 2002 Bioterrorism Act, requires incidents such as that to be reported to the CDC within seven days, said Edward Hammond, project director of watchdog group Sunshine Project.
Sunshine Project, a group investigating this incident, reported the required APHIS/CDC form was filed April 11, 2007, a year after the incident. A&M may be fined $500,000, plus up to $250,000 for individual(s) that failed to report the incident, and criminal charges could also be filed, Hammond said.
CDC officials confirmed the ongoing investigation, but said there did not appear to be any current health threat.
David Prior, executive vice president and provost for A&M, released a statement stating that the event had been confirmed by an internal investigation and noted the person involved had recovered following treatment.
"We have since strengthened our safety, training and reporting procedures following the human error involved in not reporting this incident," Prior said in the statement. "We will be fully cooperative, and our goal is to comply with all current biosafety standards."
CDC officials were on campus to conduct an independent review of A&M's policies and procedures, Prior said in the statement.
No more statements will be released until A&M receives the final report from the CDC, which they expect to have later this week, said Steve Moore, vice president for communications and chief marketing officer for A&M.
"We want to have the same information out as the CDC, and once we receive their final report, A&M will issue an official response," Moore said.
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