I honestly thought whenever dangerous viruses like E-boli and Anthrax were transport, no matter in what quantities, that it was a big expansive operation with high security. I never knew that FedEx was the answer :idunno:
This happened in my city. I never knew that they were transporting this stuff by fedex.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/WinnipegSun/News/2005/03/03/948522-sun.html
City anthrax alarm
Transportation method defended after accident
By DEAN PRITCHARD, STAFF REPORTER
Federal virology lab officials are defending their method of transporting dangerous biological agents like anthrax after a FedEx van on its way to the Arlington Street lab collided with a car yesterday. The van was carrying five boxes containing samples of anthrax, salmonella, E. coli, influenza and tuberculosis.
The accident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. at the intersection of Sherbrook Street and Logan Avenue and closed down several city blocks as emergency crews ensured none of the packages had been damaged.
No one was injured in the collision.
The incident raised concerns such transportation methods could expose Winnipeggers to fatal viruses or welcome attacks from terrorists.
Dr. Stefan Wagener, the lab's director of bio-safety and environment, said transporting hazardous biological agents by commercial courier is the accepted standard across North America, and Winnipeggers were never at risk.
"It has been proven to be the safest way for transporting dangerous goods," he said. "This was a routine process that happens for us everyday."
TRIPLE PACKAGED
Wagener said the viruses are triple packaged for transport. Test tubes containing the samples are wrapped in plastic inside a tightly sealed plastic container. That container is then sealed in a box. In the event of an accident, an absorbing agent inside the container will absorb whatever is spilled.
Wagener said ratcheting up security procedures would only slow the transportation of samples and hamper the lab's ability to work effectively.
Anthrax is considered a Level 3 virus. Level 4, the highest on the scale, includes the Ebola virus.
FedEx officials said the company routinely deals with hazardous cargo and provides "comprehensive" training for staff who transport it.
"We are the people that can transport that stuff safely," said health safety and environmental manager Peter Balyk.
"The incident has proved that the safest way for those goods to be transported is by the experts, and we are the experts."
But Winnipeg Centre MP Pat Martin said he was shocked by the accident because of promises to beef up security following the accidental spill of cooling water in 2003.
"After the spill two years ago, we really thought that better safety measures would be taken," Martin said yesterday. "Now, as soon as our back is turned, we learn that FedEx is carrying this material in commercial trucks through busy downtown streets."
Transporting anthrax by courier is no more dangerous than transporting gas by tanker truck through the city, said John Lindsay, a professor with the applied disaster and emergency studies program at Brandon University.
"Does it create a risk? Yes, but we balance that against the benefits that we receive," Lindsay said.
"It is one of many, many risks in our communities. We move hazardous materials around our city every day. This may stand out today, because it happened, but we have many things to be concerned about."
This happened in my city. I never knew that they were transporting this stuff by fedex.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/WinnipegSun/News/2005/03/03/948522-sun.html
City anthrax alarm
Transportation method defended after accident
By DEAN PRITCHARD, STAFF REPORTER
Federal virology lab officials are defending their method of transporting dangerous biological agents like anthrax after a FedEx van on its way to the Arlington Street lab collided with a car yesterday. The van was carrying five boxes containing samples of anthrax, salmonella, E. coli, influenza and tuberculosis.
The accident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. at the intersection of Sherbrook Street and Logan Avenue and closed down several city blocks as emergency crews ensured none of the packages had been damaged.
No one was injured in the collision.
The incident raised concerns such transportation methods could expose Winnipeggers to fatal viruses or welcome attacks from terrorists.
Dr. Stefan Wagener, the lab's director of bio-safety and environment, said transporting hazardous biological agents by commercial courier is the accepted standard across North America, and Winnipeggers were never at risk.
"It has been proven to be the safest way for transporting dangerous goods," he said. "This was a routine process that happens for us everyday."
TRIPLE PACKAGED
Wagener said the viruses are triple packaged for transport. Test tubes containing the samples are wrapped in plastic inside a tightly sealed plastic container. That container is then sealed in a box. In the event of an accident, an absorbing agent inside the container will absorb whatever is spilled.
Wagener said ratcheting up security procedures would only slow the transportation of samples and hamper the lab's ability to work effectively.
Anthrax is considered a Level 3 virus. Level 4, the highest on the scale, includes the Ebola virus.
FedEx officials said the company routinely deals with hazardous cargo and provides "comprehensive" training for staff who transport it.
"We are the people that can transport that stuff safely," said health safety and environmental manager Peter Balyk.
"The incident has proved that the safest way for those goods to be transported is by the experts, and we are the experts."
But Winnipeg Centre MP Pat Martin said he was shocked by the accident because of promises to beef up security following the accidental spill of cooling water in 2003.
"After the spill two years ago, we really thought that better safety measures would be taken," Martin said yesterday. "Now, as soon as our back is turned, we learn that FedEx is carrying this material in commercial trucks through busy downtown streets."
Transporting anthrax by courier is no more dangerous than transporting gas by tanker truck through the city, said John Lindsay, a professor with the applied disaster and emergency studies program at Brandon University.
"Does it create a risk? Yes, but we balance that against the benefits that we receive," Lindsay said.
"It is one of many, many risks in our communities. We move hazardous materials around our city every day. This may stand out today, because it happened, but we have many things to be concerned about."