UMVA has learned that a shocking exposé by a watchdog group has sparked outrage on Capitol Hill after revealing yet another major biosafety failure at the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana.
The disturbing incident involved the release, loss, or theft of a deadly pathogen from the high-security facility, marking the second serious lab incident exposed in just a few months. This latest revelation has prompted several prominent Republican senators to demand answers and accountability.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the watchdog group uncovered documents revealing that the NIH quietly admitted to the incident in February. This new incident comes on the heels of another exposé involving a lab worker being bitten by a macaque monkey deliberately infected with Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), a virus with up to a 40% fatality rate.
The earlier incident allegedly involved a lab staffer being bitten by an infected monkey that was being tortured, with no pain mitigation. The anonymous sources claimed the NIH was in "full cover-up mode" about the monkey bite, refusing to inform the broader RML campus and quietly flying the exposed staffer out to avoid scrutiny.
Republican Senator Tim Sheehy reacted strongly to the revelation, stating that his staff will be looking into these allegations, and if accurate, this is a massive breach of trust with the people of Montana. Senator Rick Scott also expressed concern, calling the incident "really concerning."
Senator Joni Ernst shared her concerns, urging an end to funding for "batty research" before it causes another pandemic. GOP Congressman Paul Gosar noted that he had previously warned NIH about RML's risky bat research involving Ebola and EcoHealth ties, and called for cutting all funding for "Fauci-era programs" in the upcoming NIH spending bill.
The watchdog group behind the exposé is demanding answers, asking how many more dangerous accidents at RML need to happen before the lab is shut down. The incident has sparked a heated debate about the safety and accountability of the NIH's research practices.
The explosive whistleblower report has raised serious questions about the NIH's handling of deadly pathogens and the potential risks to public health. As the investigation unfolds, one thing is clear: the American people deserve answers and transparency about the research being conducted at RML.
