Small bottles marked “smallpox” appeared in a vaccine research institution of Merck company in the United States

On November 16 local time, several US media quoted the US Centers for Disease Control and prevention as saying that vials marked with “smallpox” were found in the vaccine research institute of a Merck pharmaceutical factory on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the vial marked “smallpox” was accidentally found by a staff member of the agency while cleaning the refrigerator. At that time, the staff member was wearing gloves and masks. The Centers for Disease Control and prevention did not disclose other information.
It is reported that because the smallpox virus is too dangerous, only two laboratories in the world are authorized to store samples, one in Russia and the other is a subsidiary of the CDC in Atlanta.
It is reported that the CDC, its government partners and law enforcement agencies are investigating the matter. The Centers for Disease Control and prevention stressed that there was no indication that anyone had touched the vials.
The Department of homeland security, the National Institutes of health and Merck did not respond to requests for comment.
Merck is called Merck sharp & Dohme (MSD) in countries outside the United States and Canada. It is not only an American pharmaceutical enterprise, but also one of the largest pharmaceutical enterprises in the world. Merck is headquartered in Kenilworth, New Jersey.