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Fifty years ago, the H2N2 ("Asian") killed a million people now
kits were sent to laboratories in 4000 by an American company
WHO warns
"Outbreak sent by mistake "
E 'also arrived in Italy to the U.S. base of Camp Ederle (Vicenza)
" The samples should be immediately destroyed. " Interogazione
of parliamentary ARTURO Zampaglione

NEW YORK - Propagatosi from China to the rest of the world, the Asian flu virus in 1957-58 killed more than a million people (some estimates even talk of four million), before being isolated and defeated. In Italy the school started a month late. No one then thought that this virus, known in the scientific world with the initials H2N2, could be used for bioterrorism. But times have changed. And two weeks ago when the WHO, the UN organization in charge of health, was informed of the discovery of the same virus in a Canadian laboratory, it was feared a biological attack such as that described by Judith Miller in the bestseller or Germ in many other Hollywood movies. In fact, it was a mistake: a trivial mistake, but no less disturbing.

"The strain of the Asian was sent by mistake to over 4 thousand laboratories in 18 countries," said Klaus Stohr, head of the flu to WHO. Among them, including the laboratory of the American barracks "Ederle in Vicenza, home of the Airborne Brigade 173ma. "We immediately alerted the health authorities of various countries," Stohr added, "and was asked to research centers to destroy the samples received."

engineers were put to work yesterday and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), the federal agency in Atlanta that deals with infectious diseases, has sought to reassure the public. "Even if the risks are very low, we are doing everything possible to limit the incident and minimize the dangers," he said in a hastily convened press conference the director of the CDC, Julie Serberding. Which reminded the last case of Asia occurred in 1968 and since then no one in the U.S., was more exposed to the virus. Even flu vaccines used today do not contain the Asian strain. You know, this population is very vulnerable.



origin of the accident is the old practice of the College of American Pathologist to post on a regular basis to certain strains of influenza laboratories around the world to test their ability to detect viruses. They are often sent samples of influenza strains most famous and popular, but in September last year - for reasons still unclear - the company Meridian Bioscience, Cincinnati, acting on behalf of the American College of Pathologist, included in the kit of pathogens including the H2N2.

The majority of these "letter bomb" is over in the laboratories of the States. But fourteen samples were delivered in Canada (and it is there, the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg has been discovered for the first time the error) and 61 more kits were made in several countries, including Italy. In theory, the laboratory technicians had to use every precaution possible to analyze the samples. "But prudence is never enough," he insisted yesterday Serberding: so that the CDC has ordered the labs to send a written confirmation by fax, of the destruction of the Asian strains and asked to closely monitor the health of employees. And every sneeze suspect will trigger the alarm. Even George W.

Bush, yesterday, came out in the open about the incident of the virus, by saying to his spokesman, Scott McClellan, the White House is closely following the issue and gives a "high priority" strategic destruction of the strains. In Italy the deputy

ds Grazia Labate has asked the government to report immediately on the alert of the WHO and the measures taken to curb the problem. "The error is serious," said the DS, "because it could trigger a new epidemic." One hypothesis, of course, is that the strain falling into the hands of criminals or terrorists could use to blackmail him public opinion or as a weapon of mass destruction, causing an apocalyptic scenario such as "Andromeda," "Outbreak" and other Hollywood movies.

(April 14, 2005)