Jay Bhattacharya, 18th NIH Director, shared a post on X:
“Two weeks ago, I ordered all work to halt at a high biosecurity risk NIH lab located in Frederick, MD. I did this because of a serious incident involving biosafety that had occurred in early March, but which did not cross my desk until weeks later.
It turns out that a contractor at the lab had deliberately cut a hole in a biocontainment suit over a personal dispute with a co-worker. Researchers are supposed to wear these suits when they do experiments with dangerous pathogens. This is how lab leaks can happen!
An ongoing investigation revealed a pattern – going back to the Biden administration – of safety not taken as seriously as it ought. So with Secretary Kennedy’s blessing, I immediately ordered all work to halt and all dangerous pathogens secured.
I won’t reopen the lab until I am satisfied that it can be done with zero risk to public safety. No more lab-generated pandemics!
One last media note: WIRED used the incident to somehow paint Secretary Kennedy as anti-science. He was acting responsibly to protect the public from a high-risk lab with a poor safety record, but they ignored that in their story. Sheesh!”
Jay Bhattacharya confirmed he halted all operations at an NIH high-biosecurity lab in Frederick, MD, due to a biosafety incident involving tampering with a biocontainment suit. He cited a broader pattern of inadequate safety practices and will keep the lab closed until public safety can be assured.
More posts featuring Jay Bhattacharya.