The alarm bell rings! Frequent incidents of artificial coronaviruses in US laboratories
According to a report by the famous American investigative news website ProPublica, from January 1, 2015 to June 1, 2020, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) reported 28 incidents to security officials at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Six of the laboratory accidents involving "genetically engineered organisms" were man-made coronaviruses. These viruses were artificially modified to carry out experiments on mice.
What is even more shocking is that all of these six man-made coronavirus accidents occurred in the "highly guarded" Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory, and one of them was actually related to the study of the new coronavirus. ProPublica said that UNC refused to answer other questions related to the accident, and also refused to disclose the specific name of the virus involved, the nature of the virus modification, and the risk to the public and other key details.
Man-made coronavirus accidents are frequently shocking
In August 2015, a mouse that had been infected with the virus broke free from the gloved hands of the researcher, ran to the floor of the laboratory, was caught and placed back in the cage. NIH said the accident involved a "coronavirus related to SARS." Although the researchers were wearing protective equipment, the accident was still considered a "potential exposure." The two researchers received 10 days of medical supervision as required and reported their temperature and symptoms twice a day.
In October 2015, a petri dish containing a coronavirus related to SARS and capable of infecting mice fell on the floor and knocked over, possibly producing "suspended droplets". Although the three researchers in the laboratory were wearing safety equipment and electric air-purifying respirators, the school's safety officials believed that this was a "potential contact" and the relevant personnel received 10 days of medical supervision.
In November 2015, researchers in the laboratory knocked over dirty cages that had been contaminated while transferring infected mice to clean cages. The virus in this accident is a modified Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus. The two workers were forced to leave, let the suspended particles in the accident settle on the ground, and then returned to clean up the area. They also received 10 days of medical supervision.
In February 2016, a researcher was bitten through two layers of gloves and bit a finger while weighing a mouse. The accident involved the same coronavirus related to SARS. According to the procedure, the personnel involved disinfected the gloves, allowed the wound to bleed for one minute, and then washed it with soap and water for five minutes. After the accident, the relevant personnel were not isolated and were only required to wear masks in public and at work, and to report their temperature and symptoms twice a day. Since the virus is on the "Dangerous Pathogen List" regulated by the US Federal Government, the incident was notified to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In April 2017, a plate containing a sample of the lungs of an infected mouse fell from the hands of researchers, causing the door and floor of the incubator to be contaminated with a small amount of viral material. NIH said that the virus in the accident was also a SARS-related coronavirus. The Occupational Health Clinic for employees of the school stated that due to the small amount of leakage and the protective equipment intact, there is no need for the three researchers in the laboratory to report their body temperature to the clinic. They only need to do daily self-monitoring to pay attention to respiratory symptoms and temperature changes.
Coronavirus accident sounds biosafety alarm
In April 2020, when a researcher read the identification number on the tag on the mouse's ear, the mouse turned over and bit through its two protective gloves. At this time the mouse has been infected with a branch of the new coronavirus. Although the researcher’s skin “seems not to be punctured”, UNC still regarded it as a “medium-to-high risk exposure” and notified the local health department. The personnel involved were required to self-quarantine at home for 14 days and check their temperature twice a day. .
Although according to "Independent Science News", UNC replied that the purpose of the experiment in April this year was to develop a mouse model for preclinical trials of drugs, and the accident did not cause infection. But this accident is enough to sound the biosafety alarm for the explosive growth of new coronavirus research.
Edward Hammond, former director of the "Sunshine Project", a non-governmental organization that specializes in tracking the expansion of the US biodefense program after the "9.11" incident, said that "we need to keep a clear mind about risks." The improved new coronavirus may Infection researchers, especially inexperienced researchers, can lead to very dangerous and unpredictable results. The biggest risk is the emergence and accidental release of a new type of new coronavirus. This variant may undermine global efforts to stop the pandemic by developing new coronavirus vaccines and treatments.
Richard Ebright, an epidemiologist at Rutgers University, said that at present, almost every BSL-3 laboratory in the world is conducting research on infectious new coronaviruses, and there is a lack of laboratory operations and pathogen research at the same level. Experienced researchers will increase the risk of pathogen accidents in the BSL-3 laboratory. It is extremely irresponsible and absolutely unacceptable to carry out virus culture and virus production research with the "completely infectious" new coronavirus in the BSL-2 laboratory.