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CDC tracking down U.S. labs that study SARS virus

Infection Control Monitor, May 6, 2004

Concerned about the recent SARS outbreaks traced to labs in Asia studying the virus, U.S. health officials said May 5 they plan to determine which American facilities have SARS samples and ensure the labs are following proper procedures, Reuters reports.

Dozens of U.S. labs testing the virus will be reminded of safe procedures for handling it, said CDC spokesman Tom Skinner. The CDC is reaching out through professional societies, and has sent reminders through the agency's health alert network.

In December, Taiwan health authorities said a military scientist had contracted the illness during an accident in his lab, and the most recent outbreak of nine cases in China was traced to a medical student who caught SARS in March while researching the virus at a Beijing lab. One person has died so far.

China confirmed four cases of SARS in Guangdong earlier this year, the first since a global outbreak was declared over in July. All four recovered. The 2003 SARS outbreaks killed nearly 800 people worldwide, including about 350 in China.

After last year's outbreaks, the CDC sent SARS samples to 56 labs, mostly in the U.S., to help with research into the virus.

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