WTF GSK "accidentally" releases 45 liters of concentrated POLIO virus in europe.

[littlewolf]

http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/press/news/_layouts/forms/News_DispForm.aspx?List=8db7286c-fe2d-476c-9133-18ff4cb1b568&ID=1065

As reported to ECDC by Belgian authorities, on 2 September 2014, following a human error, 45 litres of concentrated live polio virus solution were released into the environment by the pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), in Rixensart city, Belgium. The liquid was conducted directly to a water-treatment plant (Rosieres) and released after treatment in river Lasne affluent of river Dyle which is affluent of the Escaut/Scheldt river. Belgium’s High Council of Public Health conducted a risk assessment that concluded that the risk of infection for the population exposed to the contaminated water is extremely low due to the high level of dilution and the high vaccination coverage (95%) in Belgium.

snip


ECDC's assessment is that the accidental release in the environment of large amounts of live polio virus represents a risk to public health if susceptible populations, such as areas with low polio vaccine coverage, are exposed to contaminated waters or mud. Particularly since the Lasne and Dyle rivers are joining the Escaut/Scheldt river which flows in the southwestern part of the Netherlands where various orthodox protestant communities present a lower polio vaccination coverage, before reaching the North Sea.


what kind of human error releases 45 liters of concentrated polio virus
into a water supply.

[RKP5637]

1. ... reminds me of what we were constantly told, "Accidents Don't Just Happen!" ... in chemistry lab,

etc. when dealing with some stuff. Incredible!!!

[sufrommich]

2. Here's a good explanation from a Reddit user of the virus's inability to survive

long enough to be dangerous:

Unless someone is collecting drinking water just downstream from where this virus was put in the drain, it's not going to be contaminated long.

Despite what most of the posters here seem to be assuming polio virus like many other virii is relatively fragile. It can't remain viable (survive doesn't really apply to viruses) for long outside its reservoir, which is the human body.

It's not a bacteria that has the ability to eat other bacteria or photosynthesize food. It's RNA in a protein coat. It can be disrupted chemically, by UV light, eaten or otherwise destroyed by other microorganisms, etc. It isn't like anthrax that can be transmitted by spores, it needs human cells to reproduce.

The water treatment plant it flowed to would have diluted it and possibly sped up its destruction, but really all the chemicals in a modern day sanitary sewer would have done more damage.

Once it's out in the river, sunlight and natural chemical processes will take over and destroy the rest of the virus probably before anyone can even come in contact with it; If the water is taken in by a pipe for human use, basic water treatment that kills other organisms in the water will kill the virus, too.

It's embarrassing for the guilty party that this happened, but really it's an accident much less serious and with fewer long term effects than spilling a similar amount of eg. mercury into the drain.

[George II]

7. Oh come on, why ruin a good rant with logic and sensible reality?

[littlewolf]

12. ya know I never considered the fragility of the virus.

one thinks of viruses has being hardier.
and I really didn't know sun light was that destructive.
sorry, it seemed worse then it probably was.

[magical thyme]

14. UV light destroys a lot of pathogens.

good thing, too!

[Demit]

3. Human error explained (by a commenter to another blog):

Scientist: "Uh, boss? I kinda dumped all the Polio into the river."

Boss: "Why did you do that?"

Scientist: "It was an accident. Me and Jim were playing catch with a vial of mutated anthrax when I tripped over the jar of smallpox we use to keep the door open and I fell against the panel and pushed the Dump All button."


I couldn't find a story in a newspaper or any publication about this event, just the apparent press release picked up by various blogs. Supposedly it's nothing to worry about, as the virus is highly diluted & washed out to sea. One *would* like an explanation of how something like that happens, though.

[Nitram]

4. 45 liters sounds like an awful lot of concentrated vaccine...

...for any use. What, they dumped it down the sink?

[WinkyDink]

5. Yikes! I've stayed in Rixensart on vacations!

[L0oniX]

6. "released" pffft Hey ...I released a turd into my toilet too.

Since when is dumping shit down a drain called "released"?

[Android3.14]

9. Perhaps when trying to prevent a panic?

It sounds to me as if the ECDPC editor was professional to simultaneously inform the public, prevent a dangerous panicked response and keep the company under scrutiny.

What would you rather have seen, "Enough virus to infect trillions released in European waterways"? Yup, that would have been the way to go. </sarcasm>

[marble falls]

8. Lets reduce more regulations, corporations are our friends!

[malthaussen]

10. That was more than a month ago.

So apparently no ill-effects. I think Demit has the best comment.

-- Mal

[whereisjustice]

11. If this happened with live polio, it can happen with something more dangerous. There needs

to be an investigation and consequences for bad behavior. It isn't an accident if the controls put in place are known to be inadequate. For example, could the same thing happen with radioactive materials?

[DesertDiamond]

13. Message? "If you don't accept our vaccinations we might accidentally release polio into your water"

And then you'll be in REAL trouble, buddy. So you better comply, or we'll infect you.

[jeff47]

15. So much dumb in this thread.

What happened? Someone dumped about 12 gallons down the drain. Turns out they grabbed the wrong container. The polio, along with all the rest of the sewage, went through the sewer to the local treatment plant. The treatment plant treated the sewage and then dumped it into the river.

Why did they have it? They were making polio vaccine. The vaccine is made from live virus. The virus is destroyed in part of the vaccine production, but they need live virus to start with.

"See! Look at all the Republican deregulation!!!" This happened in Belgium, not the US.

"It's a threat!! Buy our vaccine or else!!" 95% of the population is already vaccinated. Because polio vaccine is still routinely given in Europe. That's why they were making more vaccine. Also, 95% is about all you can expect for a vaccination rate - allergies, too young and religious objections mean you'll never get to 100%, and GSK would not think this "threat" would get them the remaining 5%.

We really need to do a better job teaching basic Biology in this country.