DEADLY DELAYS

Man Behind Anthrax Blunder Reassigned

Bioterror error.

The director of the lab responsible for inadvertently exposing dozens to anthrax at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been reassigned. Two CDC scientists speaking to Reuters on the condition of anonymity said Michael Farrell, the head of the Bioterror Rapid Response and Advanced Technology Laboratory, had been moved while the federal agency investigates. As many as 84 workers have needed to be vaccinated or take medicine with known side effects to combat the accidental exposure to anthrax. Many say they feel they were inadequately informed thanks to unnecessary delays from the agency. CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden admitted in an email, “We waited too long to inform the broader CDC workforce.”