Pause Implemented at Fort Detrick Research Facility Amid Safety Concerns
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a temporary halt to research activities at Fort Detrick’s Integrated Research Facility, known for its studies on dangerous infectious diseases. This decision comes in response to repeated safety incidents reported during the Biden administration.
The suspension, which took effect Tuesday at 5 p.m., affects one of the few high-security labs in North America that focuses on severe diseases like COVID-19, Ebola, and others. Located at a U.S. Army base near Washington, D.C., the facility is part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
According to an anonymous HHS official, the latest incident involved a conflict between researchers, resulting in one individual damaging another’s protective gear. This person has since been dismissed. The official criticized the lab’s safety culture, attributing its problems to oversight lapses during the previous administration.
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon emphasized the seriousness of safety at the facility, stating that swift action was taken to address the issue and improve the safety culture there.
This isn’t the first instance of trouble at Fort Detrick; there have been multiple safety incidents, including one in November. The facility’s director, Connie Schmaljohn, has been placed on administrative leave for failing to promptly report the recent event, which delayed necessary actions.
During this research pause, all activities will cease, allowing only essential personnel access to the site. It’s currently unclear how long this suspension will last.
