danger from attacks
WHO: Ukraine should destroy pathogens in laboratories
03/11/2022 10:34 am
Similar to researchers in other countries, Ukrainian scientists are studying the threat of pathogens in public health laboratories. The WHO now recommends destroying samples to prevent uncontrolled spread in the event of a Russian attack.
The World Health Organization (WHO) advises Ukraine to destroy dangerous pathogens in its laboratories to prevent possible spread following attacks. The advance of Russia and the bombing of the cities increased the risk that pathogens being researched in the laboratories would be released through the destruction of the buildings and might spread to the population, the WHO said.
Like many other countries, Ukraine has public health laboratories researching how to reduce the threat of dangerous diseases, most recently Covid-19. The laboratories were also supported by the USA, the European Union and the WHO.
WHO said it has been working with Ukrainian public health laboratories for several years to promote safety practices designed to prevent “accidental or deliberate release of pathogens.” “As part of this work, WHO has strongly recommended that the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and other relevant bodies destroy high-risk pathogens to prevent potential spills,” the organization said.
Laboratories are the subject of an information war
The WHO would not say when it made the recommendation, nor did it provide details on the types of pathogens or toxins that are in Ukraine’s laboratories. She also gave no information on whether her recommendations would be followed. Both the government in Kyiv and the Ukrainian embassy in Washington initially did not respond to requests for comment.
Ukraine’s laboratory capabilities have been at the center of an escalating information war since the start of Russia’s invasion of the country. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova once more accused the United States of operating a bioweapons laboratory in Ukraine on Wednesday. Washington and Kyiv have repeatedly denied this. Zakharova said documents unearthed by Russian forces in Ukraine “showed an emergency attempt to erase evidence of military biological programs” by destroying laboratory samples. US government spokesmen denied the allegations, saying Russia might use them as an excuse to use its own chemical or biological weapons.
The WHO statement made no reference to bioweapons. The organization said it encourages all parties to “collaborate in the safe disposal of any pathogens they encounter and to request technical assistance as needed.” Wherever possible, WHO is ready to help. According to diplomats, the United Nations Security Council will meet this Friday at Russia’s request to discuss Moscow’s allegations of US biological activities in Ukraine.
