Live anthrax was accidentally shipped from a military lab in Utah to a Maryland lab, though it is unknown at the time which lab received the sample. Small quantities of anthrax were shipped to labs in nine states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The samples originated from a military lab at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah. The CDC launched an investigation after a private commercial lab formally asked for a technical consultation. The lab was collaborating with the Department of Defense to create a diagnostic test for biological threats. Representatives of Fort Detrick labs refused to elaborate on the samples or efforts to review inventory. Christopher Garrett, a spokesman for the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said the state cannot reveal the exact name of the organization that received the sample due to possible security risks. Organizations are not required to disclose details about labs’ inventories. The CDC’s investigation will include a evaluation of worker safety and lab waste handling. The anthrax samples will be transported to the CDC or the Laboratory Response Network for further testing. The Army lab has previously conducted research with anthrax. Representatives of the Naval Medical Research Center’s Biological Research Directorate and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Integrated Research Facility, both at Fort Detrick, have not responded to requests for comment.
