The Danger of ‘Invisible’ #Biolabs Across the U.S.

Opinion by Dan Greene, August 31, 2023

"Recently, many #California residents were disturbed to learn that a small, privately-operated bio lab in the #CentralValley town of #Reedley was shut down by Fresno County Department of Public Health officials after they found that it had been improperly managing almost 1,000 laboratory mice and samples of infectious diseases including #COVID19, #rubella, #malaria, #dengue, #chlamydia, #hepatitis, and #HIV. The lab was registered to a company called #PrestigeBiotech that sold a variety of medical testing kits, including for pregnancy and COVID-19, and it was likely storing disease samples for the purpose of developing and validating its testing kits. Government authorities are still investigating the company’s history, but it appears to have previously operated a lab in Fresno under the name Universal MediTech, where city officials flagged it for investigation regarding improperly stored chemicals.

"From what is publicly known, the Reedley lab should likely have followed proper biosafety practices to minimize the risks of an #outbreak, and it apparently failed to do so. It could have caused illness, disruption, or even death among local communities and beyond depending on the circumstances of an outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (#CDC) maintains a system of four 'Biosafety Level' standards that are used worldwide for work with dangerous pathogens. Based on the pathogens that were being used at the Reedley lab, it probably should have followed Biosafety Level 3, which involves controlling the airflow inside the lab as well as a host of other practices, equipment, and facility design requirements.

"Yet, astonishingly, the U.S. government seems to not have even known that the Reedley lab existed until it was discovered by chance by Jesalyn Harper, an observant local city code enforcement officer—the only such officer working full-time in the entire city. Once discovered, the Fresno County and California Departments of Public Health found it to be in violation of local and state codes, including those for registering clinical labs and managing medical waste. Based on our reading of available information, it was likely also in violation of federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations for protecting workers from bloodborne pathogens. But these codes require proactive reporting, and the lab simply never reported any issues to regulators. In slightly different circumstances, it would likely have continued to operate unnoticed for a long time."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/the-danger-of-invisible-biolabs-across-the-u-s/ar-AA1g2xoJ?rc=1&ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=63e1f402a65c4defaf12a4efa4962d12&ei=7

#BioHazard #LabSafety #Pathogens
Potential #Pandemic #LabLeak

Persistence of the sexually transmitted bacteria #Chlamydia trachomatis is associated with abnormal vaginal flora - more news for #ObGynodon & #IDMastodon. https://www.dermatologyadvisor.com/home/topics/infections/bacterial-vaginosis-increased-persistence-chlamydia/

We laten ons sinds corona vaker testen op soa's, vooral meer gonorroegevallen

#soa #chlamydia #gonorroe
https://www.nu.nl/-/6260396/

"Taking a common antibiotic after sex greatly reduces the chances of developing #syphilis, #Chlamydia and #gonorrhea among men who have sex with men and among trans women." https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/09/health/syphilis-chlamydia-gonorrhea-doxycycline.html

These #MorningAfterPils May Prevent #STI’s, Researchers Say
Taking a common #antibiotic after #sex greatly reduces the chances of developing #syphilis, #chlamydia and #gonorrhea among men who have sex with men and among trans women

Gift Article: https://nyti.ms/3F7mYzO

#Chlamydia

Exciting new #research in #Veterinary #Microbiology! Whole-genome sequencing shows evolutionary links between a #Chlamydia psittaci ST24 strain from a healthy captive parrot in #Australia & other strains from parrots, human & horses 🦜🐎

See: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109704

#Chlamydia is no joke

#Chlamydiae is an ancient bacterial phylum infamous for the human pathogen #Chlamydia

All chlamydiae are #endosymbionts that infect hosts ranging from #protists to animals. Yet, they have drastically different genomes!

How did Chlamydiae #evolve and differences come about?

Second attempt at making the jump to mastodon! I’m a public health researcher focused on rural/urban disparities in STIs and other infectious diseases. Looking forward to joining my colleagues from #medtwitter #medmastodon #IDMastodon #IDtwitter #publichealth #academia #academictwitter #STIs #Syphilis #chlamydia #gonorrhea

Second attempt at making the jump to mastodon! I’m a public health researcher focused on rural/urban disparities in STIs and other infectious diseases. Looking forward to joining my colleagues from #medtwitter #medmastodon #IDMastodon #IDtwitter #publichealth #academia #academictwitter #STIs #Syphilis #chlamydia #gonorrhea

New comment in The Lancet Microbe> #Chlamydia psittaci should be a notifiable infectious disease everywhere https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(22)00306-8/fulltext#.Y24r4D-UKXU.twitter #psittacosis

Referenced link: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-09-chlamydia-stealthy-cloaking-device.html
Discuss on https://discu.eu/q/https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-09-chlamydia-stealthy-cloaking-device.html

Originally posted by Phys.org / @physorg_com@twitter.com: https://twitter.com/medical_xpress/status/1567890532998725634#m

RT by @physorg_com: #Chlamydia's stealthy cloaking device identified https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-09-chlamydia-stealthy-cloaking-device.html