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Russian lab blast: smallpox facility passed WHO biosecurity inspection in January

Part of the Vector State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology in Russia - one or only two facilities which houses smallpox - The Siberian Times
Part of the Vector State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology in Russia - one or only two facilities which houses smallpox - The Siberian Times

The top secret Russian biological research facility which was shaken by an explosion earlier this week was given the all-clear to continue research on deadly pathogens in January, the World Health Organization has confirmed.

However, the organisation's report on conditions at the lab has yet to be published.

On Monday, reports emerged that there had been a blaze and explosion at the Vector virology and biotechnology state research centre near Novosibirsk in Siberia, sparking widespread concern of a potential biosecurity threat.

The laboratory, one of the world’s largest, developed biological weapons during the Soviet era and currently houses samples of dangerous diseases including smallpox, anthrax and Ebola.

There is only one other facility in the world known to keep samples of smallpox – the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, US. Both are inspected by the WHO every two years to ensure they operate under "the highest requirements of biosafety and biosecurity".

A WHO spokesman told The Telegraph that Vector was last inspected in January 2019 and the full report will be published soon, following “scientific and secure clearance”. An assessment of the CDC lab, which was inspected in May, will be made available at the same time.

Flame and smoke rising from the site of blasts at an ammunition depot near the town of Achinsk in Krasnoyarsk region, Russia August 5, 2019 - Credit: DMITRY DUB/ REUTERS
Flame and smoke rising from a separate incident in August - blasts went off at an ammunition depot near the town of Achinsk in Krasnoyarsk region Credit: DMITRY DUB/ REUTERS

“Following most recent inspections, both laboratories have clearance to continue research,” the spokesman said.

He added that the WHO was satisfied with the story provided by Vector and the Russian authorities that the incident was an accident, rather than a terrorist attack, and did not present a health security threat.

“WHO is very familiar with the Vector smallpox laboratory and is satisfied with the explanations provided by the Russian authorities regarding the security of the variola virus  [smallpox] repository,” he said.

“The management of Vector responded rapidly to queries from WHO and the Russian authorities have provided information as requested," he added.

Dr Filippa Lentzos, an expert in biological threats and a senior research fellow at King’s College London, said that while the Russian story was “consistent”, she would not be surprised if more details later emerged because of the country’s track record.

“It wouldn’t be out of character for more information to come out at a later date,” Dr Lentzos told The Telegraph. “Is this the whole story? Very possibly not. Should we take it at face value? Not necessarily.

The concrete-and-steel sarcophagus, that covers the ill fated number 4 reactor is seen in Chernobyl, Ukraine - Credit: HENNADY MINCHENKO/AP
The concrete-and-steel sarcophagus, that covers the ill fated number 4 reactor in Chernobyl, Ukraine Credit: HENNADY MINCHENKO/AP

“Often with accidents or disease outbreaks, the information is very very slow at trickling out, and Russia is no exception. The initial information often presents a very confident picture, with much more nuanced information later.”

Dr Lentzos pointed to the Chernobyl cover up in the 1980s – which has recently been dramatised in a popular TV drama – and a recent anthrax outbreak in the melting permafrost as examples of Russian secrecy.

“But that’s not to say anything untoward is happening [now]... We should be on our guard but there have been no red flags just yet,” she said.

The incident follows a huge blast and fire in August in a Russian ammunition depot in Siberia, which caused 11,000 people to be evacuated from nearby areas.

Just a few days later, a mysterious explosion at a Russian nuclear weapons testing site killed seven people and led to suggestions that thousands of people in the vicinity should evacuate their homes as atmospheric radiation levels spiked. Details of the event remain murky.

The military base used for missile tests  - Credit: Getty/ AFP
The military base used for the nuclear missile tests in August Credit: Getty/ AFP

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former commanding officer of the UK chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear regiment, said the incidents raised questions about Russian security standards – especially as investment in some high-tech facilities has dwindled since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

“It’s a huge concern that  there’s been an explosion at a level four containment facility [the highest safety classification],” he said. “The concern is the state of some of these facilities, they are probably not how they should be.

“Our view on health and safety in the UK and the US is very different to Siberia or North Korea or Iraq... the UN, the WHO and others need to put pressure on the Russians to make sure they keep these facilities up to date.”

Dr Lentzos added that there needed to be heightened investment in preventing accidents occurring.

“These sorts of accidents happen fairly regularly,” she said. “Here we have seen a very high profile accident happening at what is supposed to be one to the most secure places we store these very dangerous pathogens.

“There has been some attention paid to security risks but I think we could do a better job. The scientific advances that we're seeing are enabling things that haven't been possible before,” Dr Lentzos said.

“So there’s now a larger range of people who can do harm or misuse the life sciences or biology for nefarious purposes. I think that’s something that needs to be addressed and biosecurity should be a top priority.”

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