Mice Infected With Deadly Plague Missing From Newark Lab (NJ)

WNBC Television ^ | 9/15/2005 | Puppage

[Puppage]

NEWARK, N.J. -- Authorities are searching for three mice infected with bubonic plague that disappeared from a research laboratory about two weeks ago.

While health experts say the risk to the public is slim to none, the incident highlights ongoing security failures at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

The mice went missing from the lab of the Public Health Research Institute, which is located on the UMDNJ campus and conducts bioterrorism research for the federal government.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FBI are investigating, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported in Thursday's newspapers. The rodents may have been eaten by other laboratory animals, although the possibility that they have been stolen has prompted the institute to interrogate two dozen of its employees and conduct some lie detector tests, the newspaper said.

UMDNJ did not immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday morning.

If the mice got outside the lab, New Jersey Health Commissioner Fred Jacobs said they would have already died from the disease.

Federal official said the mice may never be accounted for.

[Just mythoughts]

FYI

[aspiring.hillbilly]

You just cant keep a demon-rat down...

[Cagey]

Three blonde mice.

[Bogie]

WHAT!!!

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

I work close to Newark. I am about 12 miles from Newark.

[aspiring.hillbilly]

Wouldnt care for that fetid task if given the clean end of a 12 foot shit-stirring stick!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

While health experts say the risk to the public is slim to none...

Wasn't it the mice that spread the thing in the first place back in the bad old days?

Damned Pan-Dimensional beings. Always up to something.

[txhurl]

bttt

[murphE]

That was one of my childhood favorites.

[Iron Matron]

If the mice got outside the lab, New Jersey Health Commissioner Fred Jacobs said they would have already died from the disease.

Uh, Oh. These mice may be more than just outside the lab trying to get by on their own. Someone could have them, in fact, could be breeding and infecting other rodents.

They could release them any and everywhere. This thought of mine does not require a tin foil hat to be believed..I think.

Is there a (preventative) vaccine for bubonic plague?

[malakhi]

Wasn't it the mice that spread the thing in the first place back in the bad old days?

They didn't have antibiotics in the bad old days, and sanitary conditions were somewhat lacking.

[malakhi]

Uh, Oh. These mice may be more than just outside the lab trying to get by on their own. Someone could have them, in fact, could be breeding and infecting other rodents. They could release them any and everywhere. This thought of mine does not require a tin foil hat to be believed..I think. Is there a (preventative) vaccine for bubonic plague?

This isn't a big deal. Bubonic plague is endemic, and a few people (most commonly in the southwest) contract it every year when bitten by rodents. It is easily treated with antibiotics.

[cyborg]

28 days?

[Dallas59]

University of Medicine and Dentistry

I hate going to the Dentist.

[Cagey]

I was just kidding.

And, Newark is a great place for Portuguese Restaurants.

[cripplecreek]

Not me, I got a union.

[Calpernia]

Link from this morning:

Three Plagued Mice

[Calpernia]

Thanks for the ping. I posted it this morning ;)

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

I only had to go once to drop papers off to an attorney in the court house that were left at the firm. I was shocked to know that Newark had motorcycle cops and they rode Harleys.

I am from the country and get pitifully lost in the city. I avoid it as much as possible.

[RexBeach]

"I hate those meeses to pieces!"