A gas explosion on September 16 caused a fire at a Russian lab that contained samples of Ebola, Smallpox, and Anthrax viruses. Repair work was going on at the 5th floor of Russian State Centre for Research on Virology and Biotechnology (Vector) when the blast occurred after a gas cylinder exploded, according to a statement by the centre. The centre has claimed that no deadly viruses have been exposed to the people as a result of the explosion. The blast caused no damage to the structure of the lab building. A laboratory worker, however, suffered burns in the explosion and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. 

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The samples are secure 

The fire had spread over an area of 30 metres through the ventilation system of the building, but was ultimately controlled. The windows were broken since they were made of glass but the building structure was alright. The Koltosvo mayor while speaking to a local news agency also confirmed that the samples containing the deadly viruses are secure as they were not in the lab due to repair going on and there is no threat to the locals.

The lab was founded in the year 1974, and it was popularly known for developing biological weapons at the time of the Cold War. It, later on, went on to become one of the world's best research centres that develops vaccines and devices for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. The scientists at Vector develop vaccines for fatal diseases such as swine flu, AIDS, and Ebola. The lab reportedly completed the clinical trials for the Ebola vaccine in February 2019.

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One of the two places in the world where smallpox survives

After severe efforts being made in the late 1970s, the WHO in 1980 declared that smallpox was eradicated from the world. There are only two places in the world now where smallpox survives. One of them is Vector and the other one is at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Both the labs are highly secure and the authorities make sure no damage is caused to the samples. However, there have been few lapses in the safety by the lab in the past which raises doubts among the general public.

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