Military halts shipments of lethal germs, toxins

Washington —- Military leaders have suspended some activities at biological research laboratories to review safety rules for some of the world’s deadliest germs and toxins, including how they are shipped through FedEx and other civilian carriers.

Defense officials said the action is part of a larger review ordered after Bruce Ivins, a researcher at an Army lab, committed suicide last month rather than face charges in the 2001 anthrax attacks that killed five people.

Navy and Air Force officials said Thursday that they are temporarily halting shipments of dangerous biological agents to and from their medical and research labs.

They also said that during the review, they won’t allow any employees to handle such materials inside their labs unless the employee is enrolled in a special program to do so —- or monitored by someone who is enrolled.

The Army said for the first time Thursday that it had halted its shipments Aug. 8-14 for a similar review of procedures —- and then tightened some. The Army has six, Navy five and Air Force two labs where biomedical research is done to support counterterrorism efforts, research protection for the armed forces and to keep track of infectious diseases across the globe. Employees work with a range of dangerous materials such as anthrax and germs that cause Avian flu and encephalitis.

Officials said outside shippers that previously had to have personnel certified by the government for handling hazardous materials now also will have to provide two drivers for the deliveries —- both with classified security clearances. Procedures also are expected to be tightened for commercial air shipments.