Russian Scientist Dies in Ebola Accident at Former Weapons Lab

[Minstrel Boy]

Russian Scientist Dies in Ebola Accident at Former Weapons Lab
By JUDITH MILLER

Published: May 25, 2004
New York Times

NEW ORLEANS, May 24 - A Russian scientist at a former Soviet biological weapons laboratory in Siberia has died after accidentally sticking herself with a needle laced with ebola, the deadly virus for which there is no vaccine or treatment, the lab's parent Russian center announced over the weekend.

Scientists and officials said the accident had raised concerns about safety and secrecy at the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology, known as Vector, which in Soviet times specialized in turning deadly viruses into biological weapons. Vector has been a leading recipient of aid in an American program to help former Soviet scientists and labs convert to peaceful research.

Although the accident occurred May 5, Vector did not report it to the World Health Organization until last week. Scientists said that although Vector had isolated the scientist to contain any potential spread of the disease and there was no requirement that accidents involving ebola be reported, the delay meant that scientists at the health agency could not provide prompt advice on treatment that might have saved her life.

The first public mention of the accident was over the weekend on Pro-Med, the informal Internet reporting and discussion network of doctors and other health care professionals, which posted the Vector account of the laboratory accident on its Web site (www.promedmail.org).
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/25/international/europe/25ebol.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1085542551-ATUTjnveZ4FHuXTTNMhg5g

[oldhat]

1. Judith Miller

Ah, Judith Miller wrote that story.

How am I supposed to know it's not a bunch of lies fed to her stupid gullible ass by Russian intelligence?

[madrchsod]

2. i have read an article

about the russian germ warfare program and it really fuck`n scary....this article was written by someone who knows what he is talking about and is very respected in his field..it was a complete failure of the international community to help the russians close these labs..we do not know how much stuff was taken out before the labs were closed and where the researchers went..it will not be airplanes it will be bio attack we may never know happened untill it is to late to stop...

[salin]

3. ah Judith - can we believe what you write? Do you ever verify

what your sources tell you? This is probably a legitimate story - but am not even going to read about it until someone else writes about it. You - are the least credible writer at the NYT.

[daleo]

4. Is there an Ivan Chalabi out there somewhere?

n/t

[phoebe]

5. how many more of these leading world scientists are going to die before

any in-depth investigation is done? Cut the BS..

[nodehopper]

6. scientists keep dropping like flies, don't they?

especially microbiologists and specialists in diseases.

[depakid]

7. ZERO credibility

Scientists and officials said....

American experts said....

Officials at Vector said....

While this story may or may not be true, journalist's stock in trade is their credibility and Judy Miller has none with respect to unnamed sources. I'll believe this when I see the story confirmed somewhere else.

[sistersofmercy]

8. I would not dimiss this story so quickly and furthermore

if you don't think the US has its own ebola studies going on, you're mistaken. But yes, thaaaaaat's right, the US is working on a "vaccine," nothing more, nothing less :eyes:

[lostnfound]

9. Perhaps the intent is to prepare the ground for next terror event..

I can see it now.."It's believed that terrorists obtained the biological agents at Russian research labs, known to be lax in security and protocol.."

Yes, you are right, let's not dismiss it out of hand. It's possible that the story means exactly what it says; and it's also possible Judith Miller is ONCE AGAIN allowing herself to function as a TOOL of state terror.

[Jacobin]

10. What the hell is Judith "CIA" Miller doing in the Big Easy?

Byline says New Orleans. That seems a bit far from Siberia.

[bobthedrummer]

11. Anyone else remember the "fire" at the UK's Antarctic ROTHERA

research center reported 9-29-01 by The Independent?
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=96737

Anyone remember that Tommy Thompson hired Jerome Hauer from SAIC on 9-10-01 and how they immediately after 9/11 but before the anthrax attacks promoted the taking of Cipro?