CDC scientist possibly exposed to Ebola virus

Several scientists may have been exposed to the Ebola virus at a Centers for Disease Control lab in Atlanta, the Washington Post reported. The Washington Post report said that as many as 12 scientists were potentially exposed when a sample of the virus was mistakenly transferred to another lab.

But a statement by the CDC says that only one person — not a dozen — was potentially exposed to the virus.

From that CDC statement: “We cannot rule out possible exposure of the one laboratory technician who worked with the material in the BSL-2 laboratory,” it reads. “There was no possible exposure outside the secure laboratory at CDC and no exposure or risk to the public. The event was discovered by the laboratory scientists yesterday, December 23, and reported to leadership within an hour of the discovery.”

That person “has been assessed” and will be monitored for 21 days.

“I am troubled by this incident in our Ebola research laboratory in Atlanta,” CDC Director Tom Frieden said in the statement. “We are monitoring the health of one technician who could possibly have been exposed, and I have directed that there be a full review of every aspect of the incident and that CDC take all necessary measures. Thousands of laboratory scientists in more than 150 labs throughout CDC have taken extraordinary steps in recent months to improve safety. No risk to staff is acceptable, and our efforts to improve lab safety are essential — the safety of our employees is our highest priority.”