Lovers spat causes US lab handling deadly diseases to be shut down

All I can dig up is that the lab was indeed closed down, but the "because of a lover's spat" came only from an "anonymous source." :rolleyes: The lab director was relieved of duty because she failed to report some safety issues that needed to be reported, and she was NOT one of the "lovers" even if that part turns out to be true.
 
1. Many things happen that are not reported
2. Makes an interesting read for sure
3 My BIL is literally and totally unbelieveable, however when his 4 ex wives got together it All became evident.
Goes way beyond spousal cheating....
Unless you were family and past friends, stories of him are not believable.
A real piece of work. So anything is possible
 

CallMeKate said:
All I can dig up is that the lab was indeed closed down, but the "because of a lover's spat" came only from an "anonymous source." :rolleyes: The lab director was relieved of duty because she failed to report some safety issues that needed to be reported, and she was NOT one of the "lovers" even if that part turns out to be true.
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On the face of it, disaster has somehow been averted. I don't live in the US, but I do hope Mr Musk hasn't axed too many of the oversight people on America's federal payroll.😨 Oversight people have some important roles to play in today's societies.

Viruses, once they're on the loose, spread internationally these days.
 
CallMeKate said:
All I can dig up is that the lab was indeed closed down, but the "because of a lover's spat" came only from an "anonymous source." :rolleyes: The lab director was relieved of duty because she failed to report some safety issues that needed to be reported, and she was NOT one of the "lovers" even if that part turns out to be true.
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my bold

this seems far more likely to me - anything coming from "anonymous source" I take with huge grain of salt.
 
hollydolly said:
This is incredible.. to think the world is at risk beause 2 people are at odds with each other in the same lab

A US government lab studying the world's deadliest diseases been shut down over safety concerns after a spat between two scientists who were romantically involved.

Speaking anonymously, an HHS source revealed that one of the researchers poked a hole in the other's protective equipment during a vicious 'lovers' spat'.
Dr Connie Schmaljohn, the lab's director, was also placed on administrative leave after she allegedly failed to report the incident to other officials.

The taxpayer-funded Integrated Research Facility in Frederick, Maryland, works with lethal viruses like Ebola and lassa fever.

The shutdown was ordered after HHS officials became aware of the incident. Viruses have reportedly been locked away with padlocks while the facility and its staff are investigated.

HHS officials said: 'NIH has implemented a research pause—referred to as a safety stand-down—at the Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick.

'This decision follows identification and documentation of personnel issues involving contract staff that compromised the facility’s safety culture, prompting this research pause.'

They added: 'During the stand-down, no research will be conducted, and access will be limited to essential personnel only, to safeguard the facility and its resources.'
98373145-14711269-image-a-4_1747231075233.jpg


An HHS source anonymously told Fox News that the shutdown was related to a lover's spat.

The shutdown was ordered to start from 5pm on April 29, and to continue until officials were satisfied that the lab was safe.

The lab is one of only about a dozen BSL-4 labs in the US, or those with clearance to work on the most infectious and deadly pathogens known to man.

US Ebola lab placed on safety shutdown over 'lover's spat'
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Thanks, HD, for making me aware of this... truly shocking in my opinion.

I for one can actually believe the lover's spat as playing some role in an incident like this for the same reason that @Oldeagle66 gave... the bizarre things that I've seen go on in similar locations... like right out of a Flying Circus episode. 😅 I can also sort of understand that it wouldn't show up in American media right away, but I won't go into that.

I will say that I had an uncle who worked at Detrick back in the 50's - 70's (somewhere, thereabouts) he was a lead research scientist... and wow, the stories that got passed along from there. I used to take a keen interest in some of the research done on that site over the decades, but it was all so depressing and shocking that I gave that up. I know that they've done some good stuff too, no doubt.

Anyway, thanks again for making me aware of it all!
 
Ted01 said:
Thanks, HD, for making me aware of this... truly shocking in my opinion.

I for one can actually believe the lover's spat as playing some role in an incident like this for the same reason that @Oldeagle66 gave... the bizarre things that I've seen go on in similar locations... like right out of a Flying Circus episode. 😅 I can also sort of understand that it wouldn't show up in American media right away, but I won't go into that.

I will say that I had an uncle who worked at Detrick back in the 50's - 70's (somewhere, thereabouts) he was a lead research scientist... and wow, the stories that got passed along from there. I used to take a keen interest in some of the research done on that site over the decades, but it was all so depressing and shocking that I gave that up. I know that they've done some good stuff too, no doubt.

Anyway, thanks again for making me aware of it all!
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you're very welcome Ted
 
This is one of many instances where there simply is a lack of professionalism in some government staff any more.

So many things coming to light of people in government jobs at all levels ...... who lack ethics and professionalism and act like teenagers when caught.
Simply put the director/ manager looked the other way did not report situation which falls under her job duties. Letting these people GO when found out or demoted to point they chose to leave is appropriate.
So many examples can barely look at news without some complete disregard for rules or ethics ( not just in US). If in private sector they would be escorted out ASAP.
 
This is why many organizations or businesses frown upon workplace relationships. Setting aside possible distractions or issues between the participants it causes a distraction among employees.

They'll spend excess time gossiping and questioning a lot of things those employees do especially if there's a supervisor or management involved.
 
From one of your sources, Holly, The Telegraph:

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and its labs have been under scrutiny since Robert F Kennedy, President Donald Trump’s controversial pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, assumed office.

The department has since announced that 10,000 people would lose their jobs – including those at the NIH, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention – as Mr Trump and Elon Musk’s attempt to reduce government spending.

But there are concerns that overnight funding cuts could be a major setback for research.

End of quote

OK, this pretty much answers a lot. All the attempts to generate alarm seem to be coming from foreign news sources. Americans are not suicidal enough to ignore a public health threat of the magnitude that you seem to think it is.

Holly, your picture of Dr. Schmaljohn, says she is one of the "spiteful lovers." The article does not name the "lovers" at all, and Dr. S., the lab's director, was put on administrative leave for failing to report the incident properly up the "chain of command," In other words, an administrative error. You are accusing the wrong person.

According to your own news sources, the person who committed assault on the other lab worker was (properly) fired. The lab was shut down until it was determined that no harm was done. I don't know any more about it than that. This appears to be nothing more than political propaganda, no big surprise in these parts. But it's impossible to really discuss the subject without getting into politics.

Fortunately, nothing terrible seems to have happened. So, other than muckraking, why are the tabloid press and media so consumed with what appears to be a non-story?

If I learn that there was a real threat to public safety, and good reason to fire lots of workers and shut down facilities, I will post it here. But so far, I am alert to hearing any more about it (from reputable news sources), but not at all alarmed about my own safety. And as I've said, I live about an hour or less away from Ft. Detrick.
 
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