Could the pandemic have started with a lab accident in Wuhan? Safety breaches with coronaviruses at a US research partner lab show how it’s possible for potentially infected workers to move about in public. propublica.org/article/near-m…
Records show at least 8 UNC researchers were required to undergo medical monitoring because of potential exposures to lab-crated SARS and MERS coronaviruses from 2015-2019. Records we obtained indicate they went about their lives in public.
In 2016, a researcher was bitten by a mouse infected with a type of lab-created SARS-like virus that UNC refuses to disclose. UNC discussed isolating the scientist. Instead, they let her to go about her life in public with requirement to wear surgical mask + temperature checks.
This spring, UNC had another mouse-bite incident with a modified form of SARS-CoV-2. This time worker was told to self-quarantine. More details on UNC lab accidents with coronavirus here: propublica.org/article/here-a…
I have spent many years reporting on #biosafety issues in high-containment labs. Incidents occur frequently in elite labs across the United States. usatoday.com/story/news/201…
And this: usatoday.com/story/news/201…
And this: usatoday.com/story/news/201…
And this --- and many others. usatoday.com/story/news/201…
That's why the issues raised in these new @propublica articles about UNC's safety lapses with coronavirus are important. propublica.org/article/near-m… Plus details on each incident here: propublica.org/article/here-a…
