The CDC's laboratories deal with some of the world's most dangerous pathogens, but the agency's commitment to lab safety is "inconsistent and insufficient at multiple levels," according to a report by the agency’s own advisory group.
The report follows a series of lab blunders at the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the past year. No one was injured in those incidents, which involved the mishandling of anthrax and deadly bird flu. But the mistakes led CDC Director Tom Frieden to tell Congress last summer that his agency has “an insufficient culture of safety, ” even as he promised reforms. The head of the CDC’s anthrax lab soon after resigned.
Nevertheless, the report by the Advisory Committee to the Director said, “We are very concerned that the CDC is on it’s way to losing credibility."
The report, which is dated Jan. 13 but only recently emerged, said, “Leadership commitment toward safety has been inconsistent and insufficient at multiple levels. … Safety is not integrated into strategic planning and is not currently part of the CDC culture, enterprise-wide.”
The most recent incident occurred in late December when a lab mistake may have exposed a technician to Ebola. The worker did not become ill with the virus.
The report also criticized the agency’s “inadequate” lab safety training, asserting that the agency has a “fragmented, inconsistent approach to laboratory safety training.”
In addition, a survey of CDC workers revealed they are wary of reporting incidents for fear of personal repercussions.
“A clearly articulated CDC safety mission, vision and direction is lacking,” the report said.
A written response from the agency to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday said that when the findings were presented in January, CDC Director Frieden said the agency “agrees in principal with most of the proposed actions and is in the process of implementing or has implemented many of these.”
The agency noted that the advisory committee actually began its work on the labs last August and did the bulk of its work in August and September, so the observations reflect conditions several months ago.
The statements goes on to say the agency has established additional safeguards, implemented new safety procedures and training.
“CDC is committed to advancing its laboratory safety and capacity to maintain its ability to respond to outbreaks, determine unexplained illnesses (and support) support state and local diagnostics,” the statement said.
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