-Caveat Lector- http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,2-2001252956,00.html The Times - UK http://www.thetimes.co.uk/ College exposes staff to lethal virus TUESDAY JULY 24 2001 BY HELEN STUDD IMPERIAL College, London, renowned as one of Britain's leading research institutions, was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay more than £21,000 costs yesterday for exposing staff to a potentially lethal new virus for which there is no cure. The college's "seriously flawed" approach to health and safety matters raised a distinct possibility that both hepatitis C and dengue fever could be released into the open while it was attempting to create a hybrid from the two. Neither staff nor members of the public were adequately protected from the possibility that the man-made organism could have escaped, Blackfriars Crown Court in London was told. Scientists, led by Dr John Monjardino, failed to use sealed cabinets while studying the virus and made no emergency plan for dealing with a spillage. Staff at the college, part of London University, were not provided with protective clothing and had to walk through a room used as an office by other university employees in order to dispose of contaminated material. Keith Morton, for the prosecution, said: "They were creating a hybrid virus for which no vaccine or treatment exists. Safety measures should have been of a very high standard to protect staff and the general public. They have shown a disregard for basic measures to ensure and monitor safety, as a consequence of which their employees were exposed to a very real risk of infection." Contrary to expected procedures, the Health and Safety Executive was only notified that the research had begun when a researcher inquired about transporting the hybrid virus to Oxford. A subsequent inspection in December 1998 uncovered the potentially hazardous regime. While Judge David Martineau acknowledged that work on finding a vaccine for the two diseases was very important, there could be no excuse for such lapses, he said. Hepatitis C is frequently fatal, while dengue fever causes a severe but non-fatal reaction. Imperial College admitted one count of "failing to apply principles of good microbiological practices and principles of good occupational safety and hygiene" under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992. It also pleaded guilty to one charge of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The college and its safety advisers were each fined £20,000 in March for exposing the public to an "unacceptable risk" from the HIV virus. In 1998 it was fined £4,500 for exposing a worker to an "animal allergen". ------- End of forwarded message ------- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
