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New broke late Monday about an explosion in Russia. It occurred at the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology (VECTOR) near Novosibirsk. The center is home to most of world’s most deadly viruses including ebola, smallpox, HIV, SARS, etc. According to reporters, the explosion shattered ALL glass windows in the entire building.
Of course, the Twitteratti were quick to disseminate information peppered with the expected smarminess the online platform fosters so generously.
Initial reports focused on the incident itself.
There has been an explosion at the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology (VECTOR) near the Russian city of Novosibirsk. The research center has one of the most comprehensive collections of dangerous viruses in the world.https://t.co/1zgIFD9ymP pic.twitter.com/xomqx1hQe9
— Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (@RFERL) September 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/ironorehopper/status/1173982988381671432?s=21
Soon, observers were quick to point out that this incident came on the heals of another recent WMD disaster.
https://twitter.com/ruudwedding/status/1173991226103738368?s=21
https://twitter.com/xavierhugonet/status/1173650566733598720?s=21
With all the glass shattering, people began wondering whether the highly contagious and deadly viruses had been inadvertently released into the surrounding environment and nearby Novosibirsk.
Oh, shi……..
This is the Novosibirsk Center for Virology. This place stores and works on the most dangerous viruses on the planet.
What do you mean “All glass in the building was shattered…”?
External windows? Or internal windows? Like those in containment rooms? https://t.co/93XWgjDqTq
— Bryan William Jones (@BWJones) September 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/solidgranitenh/status/1173976368775913473?s=21
Eventually, calmer heads prevailed before any further cyber-hysteria could be drummed up. Someone familiar with the research center chimed in to state, in no uncertain terms, that pathogens would not have been released into the wild.
So, um, there was an explosion that blew out all windows in the Novosibirsk virus lab that is one of the two places in the world retaining smallpox samples, and also storing Ebola…. Russia says everything is under control. 🤔 https://t.co/WzNeBdfYeH
— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) September 17, 2019
There was an explosion @ the State Research Center of Virology & Biotechnology VECTOR near Novosibirsk, Russia.I inspected the facility years ago, which stores #smallpox & #Ebola virus, on behalf of the US State Dept. It is unlikely that the explosion led to pathogen release.
— Dr. David Sanders (@DavidSandersRep) September 16, 2019
IMAGE SOURCE: Creative Commons
