gsebry
2008-06-28, 03:15
http://jongleur.newsvine.com/_news/2008/06/21/1596839-moving-virus-lab-isnt-just-risky-its-costly-too#comments?r=286953956
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25287140/
This is a terrible idea!
The Bush administration is likely to move foot-and-mouth research center, from a remote Island in New York's Long Island Sound; named Plum Island Animal Disease Center, to the US mainland. I have serious concerns about this. The move requires an Act of Congress; Bush only has 8 months to go, can he get an Act for this passed in time?
No animals on the mainland have been infected by a disease from Plum Island in it's more than 50 year history. The old facility's buildings need replaced, so tear them down and build new ones there. Why loose or relocate experienced staff by moving it? Why try to secure a new site, when security issues are a known for Plum Island? Why buy more land when the US Government owns Plum Island?
The fact that the Agriculture Department's Agricultural Research Service, that ran the lab at Plum Island, was turned over to the Homeland Security Department is so stupid! This needs to be changed back, the Homeland Security Department would have difficulity running a two car funeral.
More space (maybe by making the buildings taller) so new research, on diseases transferred from animals to humans, can be found at Plum Island. If not, why? Is stepping up security to a BSL-4 rating impossible or not worth the cost at Plum Island? Putting back Federal Protective Service Agents might help. In the last three years $50 million have already been spent to upgrade the infrastructer of labs at this facility.
The new name for the facility is National Bio- and Agro- Defense, the HSD plans to also add new research on Biological Defense. How is biological defense so different from controlling an epidemic? Epidemic control research is currently being done at Plum Island! Wouldn't it be better for the USA if this island was attacked by terrorists, rather than the mainland?
I believe lawmakers set a deadline of April 18, 2008 for the turn over of internal documents concerning this issue, withheld by HSD, to the House Energy and Commetce Committe leaders; including Reps. John Dingell & Bart Stupak both from Mich. Did this happen? Did all the desired reports get turned over? Will a Congressional Subponea be necessary? If the HSD can't be forthwright & honest now, how can anyone believe them when they claim they will follow safety rules and can safely operate a lab on the mainland.
The foot-and-mouth virus can be carried out of a lab on a worker's breath, clothes and vehicle, so it must be Airborn, which means the virus can live in and float thru the air. Currently, Plum Island researchers involved with the live virus cannot own susceptible animals at home and must wait a week before attending outside events where suseptible animals might be present.
The Question, "would an accidental laboratory release from the new location have the potential to affect any nearby livestock?" was not directly answered in a nine page document, from a 2007 Government Report by HSD. Recently the HSD has not been meeting just the security needs at Plum Island.
Perfection following safety rules is difficult. There was an accidental release in 1978 and foot-and-mouth virus infected some cattle in holding pens, outside the facility. Twice in 2004 there were "in-laboratory" contamination, livestock were found carrying strains of the virus they had not been intentionally infected with. If a bovine survives this disease that cow is still highly infectious.
This June the new site placement is suppose to be narrowed down to three mainland states and October is planned for the selected state to be announced. I ask you to please help try to keep it on Plum Island! I generally don't write such sarcastic letters, but I'm tired of being deeply disappointed by the Bush adminstration
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25287140/
This is a terrible idea!
The Bush administration is likely to move foot-and-mouth research center, from a remote Island in New York's Long Island Sound; named Plum Island Animal Disease Center, to the US mainland. I have serious concerns about this. The move requires an Act of Congress; Bush only has 8 months to go, can he get an Act for this passed in time?
No animals on the mainland have been infected by a disease from Plum Island in it's more than 50 year history. The old facility's buildings need replaced, so tear them down and build new ones there. Why loose or relocate experienced staff by moving it? Why try to secure a new site, when security issues are a known for Plum Island? Why buy more land when the US Government owns Plum Island?
The fact that the Agriculture Department's Agricultural Research Service, that ran the lab at Plum Island, was turned over to the Homeland Security Department is so stupid! This needs to be changed back, the Homeland Security Department would have difficulity running a two car funeral.
More space (maybe by making the buildings taller) so new research, on diseases transferred from animals to humans, can be found at Plum Island. If not, why? Is stepping up security to a BSL-4 rating impossible or not worth the cost at Plum Island? Putting back Federal Protective Service Agents might help. In the last three years $50 million have already been spent to upgrade the infrastructer of labs at this facility.
The new name for the facility is National Bio- and Agro- Defense, the HSD plans to also add new research on Biological Defense. How is biological defense so different from controlling an epidemic? Epidemic control research is currently being done at Plum Island! Wouldn't it be better for the USA if this island was attacked by terrorists, rather than the mainland?
I believe lawmakers set a deadline of April 18, 2008 for the turn over of internal documents concerning this issue, withheld by HSD, to the House Energy and Commetce Committe leaders; including Reps. John Dingell & Bart Stupak both from Mich. Did this happen? Did all the desired reports get turned over? Will a Congressional Subponea be necessary? If the HSD can't be forthwright & honest now, how can anyone believe them when they claim they will follow safety rules and can safely operate a lab on the mainland.
The foot-and-mouth virus can be carried out of a lab on a worker's breath, clothes and vehicle, so it must be Airborn, which means the virus can live in and float thru the air. Currently, Plum Island researchers involved with the live virus cannot own susceptible animals at home and must wait a week before attending outside events where suseptible animals might be present.
The Question, "would an accidental laboratory release from the new location have the potential to affect any nearby livestock?" was not directly answered in a nine page document, from a 2007 Government Report by HSD. Recently the HSD has not been meeting just the security needs at Plum Island.
Perfection following safety rules is difficult. There was an accidental release in 1978 and foot-and-mouth virus infected some cattle in holding pens, outside the facility. Twice in 2004 there were "in-laboratory" contamination, livestock were found carrying strains of the virus they had not been intentionally infected with. If a bovine survives this disease that cow is still highly infectious.
This June the new site placement is suppose to be narrowed down to three mainland states and October is planned for the selected state to be announced. I ask you to please help try to keep it on Plum Island! I generally don't write such sarcastic letters, but I'm tired of being deeply disappointed by the Bush adminstration