In still a third mishap, vials containing live virus variola or smallpox were found in a storage room at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. It is said to be the first time smallpox that was unaccounted for was discovered since its eradication in the 1980s. The six vials, collected from the 1950s were found on July 1 were being stored with other vials containing influenza and Q fever. FDA officials will sweep all its cold-storage facilities around the country in fear of what else may be hiding in labs across the country. Only two labs are presently designated to handle smallpox and other labs around the world were required to destroy their smallpox strains since 1979. The last known outbreak in the United States was in 1947 in New York. The fact that these vials were not handled properly and finally destroyed is a very serious oversight . Whether the cause of these mishaps is being complacent or not being trained well, both reasons come with potentially fatal consequences.
All of the incidents lately with anthrax, bird flu and smallpox were all contained and did not end up being disastrous. But the next mishap may end up having more dire consequences.The FBI is currently investigating how these vials ended up being misplaced.