--- title: Escaped Bacteria Infects Primates and People description: Escaped Bacteria Infects Primates and People --- # [Escaped Bacteria Infects Primates and People](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2015/03/escaped-bacteria-infects-primates-and.html) Written by [Nicole Kenny](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/author/nicole-kenny) | Mar 20, 2015 7:59:00 PM Finding cures and developing vaccines is key to stopping the spread of infectious diseases.  We often learn of newly evolving diseases like [SARS](http://www.cdc.gov/sars/), [MERS](http://talkcleantome.blogspot.ca/2014/05/help-its-here-i-need-disinfectant.html) or [Ebola](http://talkcleantome.blogspot.ca/2014/03/ebola-stuff-my-dreams-are-made-of.html) through the media.  During times of conflict we often hear of the possibilities of chemical or biological warfare.  But we likely do not give much thought to the work that may be done in "secret", or perhaps more accurately described as "on the down-low" in Canada and the US to try to find vaccines etc. against organisms that could be potentially used as [biological agents](http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/agentlist-category.asp).  These agents are defined as high-priority organisms that pose a risk to national security because they can easily be disseminated or transmitted from person to person; can result in high mortality rates and have the potential for major public health impact; might cause public panic and social disruption; and require special action for public health preparedness.* *[*Burkholderia pseudomallei*](http://www.sanger.ac.uk/resources/downloads/bacteria/burkholderia-pseudomallei.html) is  one such agent.   In November 2014 two macaques at the [Tulane National Primate Research Center](http://outbreaknewstoday.com/tulane-primate-facility-investigation-unlikely-there-is-any-threat-to-the-general-population-says-cdc-82433/) were found to be infected with *Burkholderia pseudomallei*.  *Burkholderia pseudomallei* itself is a gram negative bacteria that can be found in contaminated water and soil  and is spread to humans and animals through direct contact with the contaminated source.  Person to person transmission can occur through contact with blood and body fluids of an infected person. The bacterium causes a disease known as [Melioidosis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melioidosis) or Whitmore's disease and is predominately found in tropical climates, particularly Southeast Asia and northern Australia. An investigation by the CDC and [APHIS](http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/home/) (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) has identified lapses in the appropriate use of PPE which could have led to the bacteria clinging to inner garments and being transported out of the select agent lab where research was being conducted on mice with the bacteria.  It is believed this is how the bacteria was transferred to the primate facility.  While there is no reason to believe that the** **bacterium has expanded beyond the research center, as a precaution all select agent research has been suspended and will remain suspended until the facility can demonstrate that procedures are in place to ensure that animals accidently exposed in the future are managed appropriately, that PPE procedures are improved, that staff appropriately trained to ensure adequate biosecurity measures. ## It was believed that one of the lab employees was infected with *Burkholderia*, however, a second test has now indicated the person is not infected. So I guess I sensationalized the title a tiny bit.....  Regardless, this is a great lesson to us all in the importance following biosecurity procedures! ## *Bugging Off!* ## Nicole                                                                                                                           [View full post](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2015/03/escaped-bacteria-infects-primates-and.html) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Nicole Kenny" }, "dateModified" : "2019-03-04T15:23:19.437Z", "datePublished" : "2015-03-20T19:59:00Z", "headline" : "Escaped Bacteria Infects Primates and People", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 60, "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png", "width" : 60 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2015/03/escaped-bacteria-infects-primates-and.html", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 60, "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png", "width" : 60 }, "name" : "Virox-Animal-Health-Resources" } } ```