Live anthrax sent to Australia: US

Washington

US authorities investigating the mistaken shipment of live anthrax by a military lab have discovered another batch of the lethal bacteria dating back to 2008, some of which was sent to Australia, officials said.

The revelation suggested a wider problem in the handling of anthrax samples, which were supposed to be rendered inactive by irradiation at a US Army facility in Utah. 

The Pentagon acknowledged on Thursday that at least 18 government, university and commercial laboratories received suspected live samples of anthrax from a batch irradiated in March 2014.

Samples from that batch were distributed to various labs for research in nine states as well as at the US military’s Osan air base in South Korea.

But on Friday, officials said the investigation turned up another batch of live anthrax, which was meant to be made inactive or “dead” in 2008.

It was not clear precisely when samples from the 2008 batch were sent out or where the samples were sent, other than Australia, officials said.

“We are still trying to figure out where the samples were sent,” a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity said. Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop welcomed the investigation by the US into the shipment.

“We are taking part in the investigation and I am pleased it is underway,” she said.

US military and health authorities insisted there was no threat posed to public health and no suspected cases of infection.

Four lab workers in the states of Texas, Delaware and Wisconsin had been put on antibiotics as a precaution, according to the Centres for Disease Control (CDC).

In addition, 22 military and civilian personnel were also placed under preventative treatment at Osan air base in South Korea, the Pentagon said.