From the Daily Mail, May 14, 2025:
A US government lab studying the world's deadliest diseases been shut down over safety concerns after a spat between two scientists who were romantically involved.
Speaking anonymously, an HHS source revealed that one of the researchers poked a hole in the other's protective equipment during a vicious 'lovers' spat'.
Dr Connie Schmaljohn, the lab's director, was also placed on administrative leave after she allegedly failed to report the incident to other officials.
The taxpayer-funded Integrated Research Facility in Frederick, Maryland, works with lethal viruses like Ebola and lassa fever.
The shutdown was ordered after HHS officials became aware of the incident. Viruses have reportedly been locked away with padlocks while the facility and its staff are investigated.
HHS officials said: 'NIH has implemented a research pause—referred to as a safety stand-down—at the Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick.
'This decision follows identification and documentation of personnel issues involving contract staff that compromised the facility’s safety culture, prompting this research pause.'
They added: 'During the stand-down, no research will be conducted, and access will be limited to essential personnel only, to safeguard the facility and its resources.'
An HHS source anonymously told Fox News that the shutdown was related to a lover's spat.
The shutdown was ordered to start from 5pm on April 29, and to continue until officials were satisfied that the lab was safe.
The lab is one of only about a dozen BSL-4 labs in the US, or those with clearance to work on the most infectious and deadly pathogens known to man.
It employs about 168 people, including federal workers and contractors.
DailyMail.com has reached out to HHS for comment.
Staff were informed of the shutdown in an email sent by Michael Holbrook, the associate director for high containment at the facility — reported Wired.
'We are collecting as many samples as is reasonable to ensure these studies are of value,' he added in the email....
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