Biosecurity - Biosecurity Incidents

Biosecurity Incidents

• 1984 Rajneeshee religious cult attacks, The Dalles, Oregon

• Objective: Gain control of the Wasco County Court by affecting the election
• Organism: Salmonella typhimurium, purchased from commercial supplier
• Dissemination: Restaurant salad bars
• 751 illnesses, Early investigation by CDC suggested the event was a naturally occurring outbreak. Cult member arrested on unrelated charge confessed involvement with the event

• 1990s Aum Shinrikyo attempts in Tokyo, Japan

• Objective: Fulfill apocalyptic prophecy
• Organisms: Bacillus anthracis (Vaccine strain), Clostridium botulinum (Environmental isolate, Avirulent strain) Aum Shinrikyo ordered Clostridium botulinum from a pharmaceutical company, and Ebola virus (Attempted to acquire from Zaire outbreak under guise of an “Humanitarian mission”)
• Dissemination: Aerosolization in Tokyo (B. anthracis and Botulinum toxin)
• Leader Asahara was convicted of criminal activity

• 2001 Anthrax attacks in the US
• 1995—Larry Wayne Harris, a white supremacist, ordered 3 vials of Yersinia pestis from the ATCC
• 1995—Laboratory technician Diane Thompson removed Shigella dysenteriae Type 2 from hospital’s collection and infected co-workers
• Professor Thomas Butler, United States, 2003

• 30 vials of Yersinia pestis missing from lab (never recovered); Butler served 19 months in jail

• Dr. Mario Jascalevich, New Jersey doctor, accused of poisoning 5 patients with this plant-derived toxin - Tubocurarine: 1966
• Arnfinn Nesset, nursing home operator in Norway, killed 27 residents at a nursing home with curacit: May 1977 – November 1980
• Dr. David Acer, Florida dentist, infects 6 patients with HIV, unclear if this was a deliberate act: 1987–1990
• Dr. Ray W. Mettetal, Jr., a neurologist in Virginia, was found in possession of ricin after arrest on another issue: 1995
• Debora Green, a physician, convicted of trying to murder her estranged husband with ricin
• Richard Schmidt, a gastroenterologist in Louisiana, convicted of attempted second degree murder for infecting nurse Janice Allen with HIV by injecting her with blood from an AIDS patient: 1998
• Brian T. Stewart, a phlebotomist, sentenced to life in prison for deliberately infecting his 11-month-old baby with HIV-infected blood to avoid child support payments: 1999
• Physician reports theft of a vial of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: June 1999
• Japan 1964-1966, Dr. Mitsuru Suzuki was a physician with training in bacteriology

• Objective: Revenge due to deep antagonism to what he perceived as a prevailing seniority system
• Organisms: Shigella dysenteriae and Salmonella typhi
• Dissemination: Sponge cake, other food sources
• He was later implicated in 200 – 400 illnesses and 4 deaths
• Official investigation started after anonymous tip to Ministry of Health and Welfare. He was charged, but was not convicted of any deaths

• Hospital in Dallas, TX, 1996, Diane Thompson was a clinical laboratory technician

• Objective: Unclear, possibly revenge against former boyfriend and cover-up by infecting co-workers
• Organism: Shigella dysenteriae Type 2, acquired from clinical laboratory
• Dissemination: Contaminated pastries in the office breakroom
• Infected 12 of her coworkers, She was arrested, convicted, 20 year sentence