Boston University Tularemia Research Continued Weeks After Evidence of Infection, Report Finds

Research on a tularemia vaccine at Boston University continued for at least a month after there was evidence last year that laboratory workers had been exposed to the infectious disease, the Boston Globe reported Saturday (see GSN, Jan. 25).

Two researchers became sick in May and a third in September. All recovered.

Blood tests performed in research personnel in August showed that several, including the two who had been sick in May, had tularemia antibodies. That is a sign of exposure to the disease, the Globe reported.

The tests by September gave Peter Rice, Boston University School of Medicine infectious disease research chief at the time, “reason to suspect” that researchers had been exposed to tularemia, according to an internal university report. However, he did not halt laboratory work on the disease until Oct. 28.

“The more cautious and responsible approach” would have been to halt work as soon as suspicions arose of possible infection, the report states.

Rice quit the university last month, after being stripped of his position as infectious disease research head in January. His lawyer told the Globe that Rice is being unfairly targeted.

“Peter Rice did not know about the particulars of the illnesses these individuals had,” said attorney Michael Fee. “He was not aware that they had symptoms consistent with tularemia; he was not aware that they were treated by antibiotics. Dr. Rice is supervising a large laboratory. Those facts were not known to him.”

The committee that prepared the report also harshly criticized researchers for lacking caution. However, the committed stated that normal safety procedures at the Biosafety Level 2 laboratory would not have prevented infection. Tularemia research must be performed at facilities with higher levels of security, the committee said (Stephen Smith, Boston Globe, March 19).

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