NEWS
Missing disease strain sparks concern
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by John Buchel and Cristina Daglas
Monday, January 27, 2003
Controversy surrounded Texas Tech University just a few weeks ago when 30 vials of Yersinia pestis were reported missing by Dr. Thomas Butler, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine. He was conducting an experiment involving the bacteria.
This type of bacteria is generally found in wild rodents and is referred to as the plague in large quantities. Texas Tech’s University Health Sciences Center was housing the experiment, which was being done in an attempt to try and find a new method of treating plague victims.
Butler reported the vials missing; however, he has since confessed to accidentally destroying them, according to Cindy Rugeley, Texas Tech’s Vice Chancellor for News and Information. He was then charged with falsifying statements and has been placed on leave without pay.
Butler had been involved in plague research for more than 25 years and was internationally recognized in this field according to a Texas Tech news release.
Although this offense proves itself serious and could have potentially been a health risk, Rugeley continues to stress that the substance was merely bacteria, not the plague, due to the amount originally declared unaccounted for.
“There wasn’t enough to cause a public health risk,” Rugeley said.
Rugeley also commented that Texas Tech is always going over security protocols.
“We took all the correct security measures,” said Rugeley.
She also mentioned following the Center for Disease Control’s promulgated rules.
Lelywn Grant, a spokesperson for the CDC, said several government agencies were involved in the enforcement of the CDC’s Select Agent Program involved in Texas Tech’s research.
“In the Texas Tech situation, the FBI was the lead agency responding to the fact the plague was unaccounted for,” Grant said “The CDC’s role was basically to provide technical support for the investigating parties.”
The FBI responded immediately after Texas Tech notified the CDC that the samples of the plague were missing, according to Special Agent Lori Bailey of the Dallas office of the FBI.
“We dispatched around 60 agents to Lubbock when the vials appeared missing,” Bailey said. “The agents then conducted an investigation.”
The Select Agent Program is a process by which the CDC regulates the possession of biological agents and toxins considered to have the potential to pose a threat to public health and safety by facilities such as government agencies, universities, research institutions and commercial laboratories.
The bacteria declared unaccounted for by Texas Tech in large quantities is considered the plague, which is sometimes referred to as a ‘Select Agent.’
The CDC’s Select Agent Program lists substances such as the pneumonic plague, smallpox, the Ebola virus and the toxin Ricin. The program also details security measures necessary for facilities containing such agents as a guard at the door, alarm system, key-card entry and notification of employee transfer.
“There’s a number of folks involved in the process,” Grant said. “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has asked the CDC to manage this program. Upon notification of a particular facility not having registered according to our process, we work closely with other agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
Grant said not cooperating with the CDC could result in fines and arrests, but that such action would be the responsibility of the FBI and local law enforcement.
The University of Wisconsin also houses such select agents behind closed doors of the research facilities. Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Policy Tim Mulcahy is convinced that something of this sort would not happen at UW.
“This is an example of poor judgment…fabricating a situation to cover up one’s own actions,” said Mulcahy, who pointed out the benefits of select agents to fighting the war on terrorism.
“We’re doing everything to make sure security is tight at UW,” Mulcahy said. “We have investigators on campus that work with government select agents list. Since 9/11 there has been an increased level of scrutiny.”
However, according to Rugeley, all of the proper safety procedures and protective measures were being taken at Texas Tech. This was just a matter of trust.
“I don’t know what we could have done to prevent this,” Rugeley said.
