Research on live plague strains in anti-plague institutes poses an unacceptable public safety risk

The death of a lab worker in Siberia raises the question of whether studying dangerous pathogens in anti-plague institutes is worth the risk of a potential outbreak.

Health

Health news, debates, and claims covering public health, mental health, nutrition, medical care, and health policy.

1 debate·6,990 claims·43 news stories

Public safety

Policies and systems protecting communities from crime, accidents, disasters, and other harms through law enforcement, emergency response, and regulatory measures.

89 claims·46 news stories

Specific disease outbreaks

Documented outbreaks of specific diseases including measles, cholera, hantavirus, Legionnaires' disease, and other infectious disease events.

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Biomedical research

Scientific investigation into biological and medical processes to advance understanding of disease, develop treatments, and improve human health outcomes.

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Bioethics

Ethical issues in medicine and biomedical research: gene editing, reproductive technology, end-of-life care, organ markets, performance enhancement, and dual-use research.

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Infectious disease

Illnesses caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi that can be transmitted between individuals or from animals to humans.

2 claims·22 news stories

Siberian pneumonic plague lab-acquired infection

A 28-year-old lab technician died of pneumonic plague after a laboratory accident at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia, triggering quarantine of nearly 200 contacts and accusations of a government cover-up.

16 claims·4 news stories