Anthrax Exposure Update: CDC Drops Head of Bio-terrorism Labs

Following an incident that has left at least 86 federal employees exposed to a potential infection of the anthrax bacterium, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reassigned the director of its Bioterror Rapid Response and Advanced Technology Laboratory.

The director, who remains unnamed, "has been temporarily detailed pending the results of the investigation" according to the Los Angeles Times, who was informed via email about the change by CDC spokesman Benjamin Haynes on Monday.

The investigation in question is still ongoing as of last Thursday, and aims to determine how exactly a live strain of Bacillus anthracis slipped under the radar, being handled by dozens of scientists and staff under the assumption that it had been properly deactivated.

Since then, 86 exposure have been identified or come forward, and most of those are being treated and monitored for signs of infection. Thankfully, the CDC says there is no chance that the deadly bacterium left the lab.

According to the LA Times, this all could have been avoided too, had CDC employees taken the proper precautionary measures. According to a CDC spokesman, protocol requires that lab techs wait 48 hours and then test to see if spores have grown even when handling inactive samples. However, the lab only waited 24 hours.

Now, CDC Director Tom Freiden has reportedly received a letter from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee requesting a breifing and explanation concerning the lab-isolated exposure.

"The breach in safety protocol threatened the health and safety of CDC staff and raises serious concerns and questions with respect to the protocols and procedures that were followed at the biosafety labs," the letter said, according to a Reuters report.

The senate reportedly added that it was extremely disturbed that it did not learn of the incident until nearly a week after the exposures were detected.

The US Senate health panel called on the CDC for a detailed explanation on Monday.