The CDC suspended work at its Biosafety Level 4 labs — which house research projects involving deadly pathogens like the Ebola virus — due to safety issues with the air hoses attached to protective suits worn by lab workers.
"On February 13, 2017, CDC learned from the company that now owns the manufacturer [of the hoses] that their current stock of air hoses was not certified to be used for breathing air," said the agency in a Feb. 17 media statement. "CDC will be testing the air that comes through our laboratory hoses to determine whether it contains any chemical compounds that could pose a health risk."
The safety concern does not involve the possibility of germ samples from the facilities becoming airborne, but rather the possibility that chemicals released into the air supply from the hose material might be unsafe to breathe. So far, the issue has not caused any known exposure to lab workers.
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Highly publicized accidents at the CDC in recent years involving influenza, anthrax and smallpox have resulted in a tightening of safety protocols at the federal health agency.
Steve Monroe, PhD, the associate director for Laboratory Science and Safety at the CDC, told The New York Times this recent response is indicative of the success "in our ongoing efforts to improve accountability for lab safety and empower staff to report things that come to their attention."
There is no known risk to public health associated with the safety issue. The CDC will provide updates on the situation as they become available, according to the statement.
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