MailOnline has learned of six lab incidents where genetically modified organisms (GMO) have escaped containment in the past five years.
Four occurred before Covid swept the globe, according to our Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
Research involving genetically-modified pathogens has come under huge scrutiny since the pandemic kicked off, with some believing Covid was spawned by similar, controversial experiments.
One involved a genetically altered type of mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis.
The Government’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) listed the cause of the accident as power failure whilst scientists were working with the bacteria.
The report doesn’t mention how many people were potentially exposed, for how long, or how the power outage occurred in the first place.
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Dr [Richard] Ebright, of Rutgers University, said the accidents didn’t include pathogens likely to spark a new pandemic.
He listed such pathogens as being ones like avian influenza, coronaviruses like SARS and MERS, smallpox as well the pathogens behind disease like Ebola.
While information on lab accidents isn’t regularly published by law, those running the labs have to report incidents to HSE.
