US panel on China urges closer look at American biosafety after ending probe into unlicensed lab

‘Essential questions’ unanswered following months-long investigation of facility housing lab mice and medical waste owned by Chinese citizen

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention did not test unlabelled samples, citing protocol and drawing panel’s criticism

Reading Time:2 minutes

Code enforcement officer Jesalyn Harper walks past the garden hose that tipped her off to an illegal medical lab operating in Reedley, California, on Aug. 1. Photo: The Fresno Bee via AP

Published: 8:15am, 16 Nov 2023Updated: 10:11am, 16 Nov 2023

The US House select committee on China’s Communist Party is urging greater congressional attention on American biosafety after concluding its investigation into an unlicensed California laboratory without “the ability to fully answer essential questions”.

“The CDC’s refusal to test any potential pathogens … makes it impossible for the Select Committee to fully assess the potential risks that this specific facility posed to the community,” it said in a report released on Wednesday, referring to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

The development came after the panel in September issued local officials a subpoena as part of its inquiry into the medical warehouse.

In March, local and federal officials began a months-long investigation into the facility housing lab mice, medical waste and hazardous materials in the city of Reedley in Fresno county.

Refrigeration units sit outside a warehouse that housed a now-closed medical lab that officials say was operating illegally in Reedley, California, on Aug. 1. Photo: The Fresno Bee via AP

At least 20 “potentially infectious agents” including coronavirus, HIV, hepatitis and herpes were detected on site, according to the CDC.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x