Illegal Medical Lab Shut Down in California Warehouse, Contained Infectious Agents
Reedley, California – Local and federal authorities have taken action to shut down an illegal medical lab that was discovered hidden in a warehouse in California. The facility contained nearly 1,000 laboratory mice, hundreds of unknown chemicals, refrigerators and freezers, vials of biohazardous materials, and at least 20 infectious agents, including SARS-CoV-2, HIV, and a herpes virus.
The discovery of the unlicensed facility came about after a local code enforcement officer noticed an illegally attached garden hose behind the building. City officials obtained a search warrant and inspected the warehouse, which was supposed to be used for storage purposes only.
City and county health officials conducted separate inspections and were shocked by what they found. “This is an unusual situation. I’ve been in government for 25 years. I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Reedley City Manager Nicole Zieba.
Court documents revealed that the warehouse had rooms with various apparatus and vessels of liquid. Blood, tissue, bodily fluid samples, and thousands of vials of unlabeled fluids were also discovered. In addition, there was a room full of mice, some of which were in inhumane conditions. Over 175 mice were found dead, and the rest were euthanized by the city in April.
The substances collected from the lab were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for testing. The CDC detected at least 20 potentially infectious agents among the samples. Assistant Director of the Fresno County Department of Public Health Joe Prado confirmed that all the biological agents have been destroyed as of July 7. However, officials are still working on removing equipment from the warehouse.
A criminal investigation is currently underway, and the tenant of the warehouse, Prestige Biotech, is being looked into. The company’s president, Xiuquin Yao, has been uncooperative and failed to provide any licensing or permit that would explain the laboratory activity at the warehouse. According to court documents, Prestige Biotech had moved assets from a defunct company called Universal Meditech Inc. (UMI) to the Reedley warehouse.
The shutdown of this illegal medical lab highlights the importance of proper regulation and oversight to ensure the safety and ethical practices of scientific research. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the extent of any potential criminal activity and the consequences that may follow.