On Monday, an explosion thundered and a fire broke out at the Russian Virology Center, which is one of the two structures in the world where the smallpox virus is still stored. Although the authorities denied the threat of infection on Tuesday, an incident at such an institution is still alarming. Whether there is a threat of a virus leak, French experts in the field of virology are trying to find out.
This research center, where work on the Ebola virus is being carried out in particular, is one of only two institutions in the world storing the smallpox virus.
On Monday, the Russian center for virology and biotechnology "Vector" exploded and started a fire. This is one of two institutions in the world where the smallpox virus is stored. On Tuesday, Russian authorities denied the possibility of contamination, assuring that no hazardous substances were stored in the affected premises.
Moscow assures that there is no danger. On Monday, an explosion thundered and a fire broke out at the Russian Virology Center, which is one of the only two structures in the world where the smallpox virus is still stored (it was officially destroyed in 1977). Although the authorities denied the threat of infection on Tuesday, an incident at such an institution is still alarming. Is there a threat of a virus leak? Let's figure it out.
What happened?
On Monday, there were reports of an explosion and fire in the Russian center of virology and biotechnology "Vector" in Koltsevo near Novosibirsk (the third largest city in Russia - 1.5 million people). According to Rospotrebnadzor, the explosion was caused by a gas cylinder: it led to a fire and injury to one of the employees. Several windows were smashed, but the building itself was not damaged, officials said, adding that no hazardous substances were released.
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What is the laboratory working on?
“Historically, this was a Soviet biological weapons laboratory. It was reportedly closed and converted to develop vaccines, but we do not have exact information,”explains Frédéric Tangy, virologist at the National Center for Scientific Research. According to him, "Vector" is one of two laboratories in the world (together with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta), where the smallpox virus is stored.
“It is difficult to say how the laboratory works today, and what exactly is the nature of its activity. Only the smallpox part of it can be said with certainty,”says Hervé Raoul of the P4 Inserm laboratory in Lyon. “Work on smallpox is clearly spelled out in the relevant international agreements. The laboratory performs an archival function, and research activities in this area are not conducted. WHO conducts annual inspections,”he adds. “In addition to smallpox, the laboratory contains Ebola, HIV and anthrax,” says Frederic Tangy. Herve Raul is not sure that "someone knows exactly what projects and viruses they are working on in Russia."
What is the potential hazard?
Frederic Tangy believes that the danger depends on the location of the fire: "If the explosion occurred in the garage, there is no danger, but if everything happened near the freezer with the smallpox virus, infection can occur." "The virus is stored at -80 degrees, and the tubes must freeze to infect," he continues.
“A fire in the area where the virus is located is practically good news, because it kills pathogens. If it affects the area where the laboratory safety equipment is located, everything is more complicated, but it is not necessarily a disaster,”says Hervé Raul. According to him, "there is no serious risk, and infection is unlikely."
What happens in case of infection?
If one of the potentially dangerous objects was affected, the first measure is “ring vaccination, that is, laboratory staff, their relatives, the entire settlement and surrounding cities,” explains Frederic Tangy, specifying that it was this method that made it possible to defeat smallpox in 1977.
Incidentally, this is one of the risk factors for the incident: “Today, people are no longer vaccinated because the virus is believed to have been eradicated. But if he returns, people will have no protection. " According to the specialist, the only danger lies in the fact that an infected person can board the plane: “Nobody conducts checks, because it is believed that the virus has been destroyed. As a result, this person can transmit the virus, which spreads very quickly."
Is it a separate incident?
The Vector laboratory is not the only dangerous Russian facility where incidents have occurred. In early June, several people were injured after three explosions at factories and ammunition depots in central and southern Russia. In early July, 14 Russian sailors were killed in a mysterious fire on a nuclear submarine in northern waters. The authorities shielded the incident with a veil of secrecy, but assured that the vessel's reactor was not damaged.
In August, during the testing of new weapons at the northern test site, a nuclear explosion occurred, killing at least five people. According to authorities, the incident resulted in a short-term increase in background radiation. “In Russia, more and more accidents occur at hazardous facilities. Not all the necessary measures are taken there, and the infrastructure does not always work well. An accident in such a laboratory means poor management and security gaps,”concludes Frederic Tangy.
Manon Aublanc
