Live anthrax mistakenly shipped from US Army facility in Utah

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon said on Wednesday that a suspected live sample of anthrax was sent to a U.S. base in South Korea, in addition to the samples mistakenly sent to nine U.S. states, but stressed no personnel have shown signs of possible exposure.

“The sample was destroyed in accordance with appropriate protocols,” said Pentagon spokesman Colo. Steve Warren, adding the sample was sent to Osan Air Base.

The Pentagon said there were no suspected cases of anthrax infection among laboratory workers or risk to the general public after live samples were mistakenly sent from a military facility in Utah to nine U.S. states.

Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said the military facility in Utah had been trying to develop a test to identify biological threats.

The U.S. military mistakenly sent at least one live anthrax sample to a private laboratory in Maryland and sent others to eight other states, a U.S. defense official said on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said the samples were meant to be sent in an inactive state for research purposes and added the samples were now believed to be secure.

The sample came from a military lab at the Dugway, Utah, Army facility, according to two defense officials.

The Pentagon confirmed an investigation into the incident was under way and said there was no public health risk.

It was not immediately clear if anyone in those laboratories might have been exposed before learning they had live, as opposed to inactive, samples.

All military, government and commercial labs that may have received samples are now reviewing their inventory of anthrax. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been brought in, the officials said.