A laboratory in Japan may have inadvertently received a live shipment of anthrax back in 2005 from Dugway Proving Ground, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
In a release Monday, the DOD added Japan to the list of foreign countries that may have received live anthrax, along with the United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia and Canada. As many as 69 laboratories may be affected by the live shipments, including labs in 19 states and Washington, D.C.
According to the DOD, it is impossible to determine if the sample sent to Camp Zama in Japan 10 years ago was shipped live as the sample was destroyed in 2009. There were no reported cases of anthrax infection related to the sample and there is no health risk to laboratory personnel or the general public of Japan, the DOD release said.
Federal, civilian and academic laboratories have been affected by the shipments, according to the DOD.
The number of people administered post-exposure prophylaxis as a precaution has not changed from the 31 reported at the beginning of June. There has still been no report of any cases of anthrax infection.
DOD officials held a press conference on June 3 to discuss the way the anthrax is prepared and shipped. A full review of the department’s laboratory procedures for handling biological agents is currently ongoing.
Anthrax samples are sent to laboratories working on biological weapon detectors and protective measures like gloves and containment suits, according to Cmdr. Franca Jones, director of medical programs for DOD Chemical and Biological Defense.
At least three other labs beside Dugway Proving Ground send out irradiated samples of formerly live anthrax in the U.S.: Fort Detrick, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center and the National Naval Medical Center, she said.