Local and federal officials have closed what they believe to be an illegal medical lab hidden in a California warehouse. It contained nearly 1,000 laboratory mice, hundreds of unknown chemicals, refrigerators and freezers, vials of biohazardous substances, including blood, and at least 20 incubators. Infectious agents such as SARS-CoV-2, HIV, and herpes virus.
according to NBC News Affiliate Fresno’s KSEELocal authorities were first alerted to the existence of this unlicensed facility when local law enforcement officials noticed a garden hose illegally attached to the back of the building. As a result, city officials obtained a search warrant to inspect a warehouse that was supposed to be used only for storage.
according to Court documents obtained by NBC NewsCity officials inspected a warehouse in Reedley, southeast of Fresno, on March 3, and then county health officials inspected the facility on March 16, and what they found there reportedly shocked them. there is
“This is an extraordinary situation. In my 25 years in government, I have never seen anything like this,” Reedley City Manager Nicole Ziba told KSEE.
According to court documents, one room contained “vessels of liquids and various utensils.” “Fresno County Public Health staff also observed blood, tissue, and other bodily fluid samples and serum. And there were thousands of vials containing unlabeled liquids and suspected biological substances. ” There was also a room full of rats.
According to court documents, the mice were kept in inhumane conditions. More than 175 were found dead, and the city took over the remaining animals in April and euthanized 773. Materials collected from the laboratory were given to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing. The documents say authorities have detected at least 20 potential infectious agents.
Fresno County Public Health Deputy Director Joe Prado said all biological agents had been destroyed as of July 7. Authorities are still working to remove the equipment from the warehouse, but Ziva said, “There is nothing dangerous at this point.” “
A criminal investigation is underway. The warehouse tenant is listed as Prestige Biotech. Prado told KSEE that the company’s president, Yao Siuqing, has not been willing to provide information. According to court documents, Yao told those involved that he transferred assets of a defunct company called Universal Meditech, Inc. (UMI) to the Reedley warehouse from another Fresno location where UMI operated before the eviction. Stated. Prestige was identified as a creditor of UMI. However, Prestige is said to have provided no licenses or permits to account for its experimental activities at the warehouse.
