Frascos com subtâncias 'mortais' encontrados nos EUA
Six deadly substances, some over a century old, have been discovered in government laboratories in the United States. The deadly microbes were found in a hunt that started after the accidental discovery in July of bottles of smallpox at a research centre near Washington.
Reporter: Joanna Jolly
Workers searching the government premises found six different types of microbes classed as being so dangerous they're required to be stored at high-secure facilities.
Instead, they were found in regular laboratories. They included bacteria that cause the plague and nerve toxins that cause botulism. A vial of the highly poisonous toxin ricin was also found, dating from nearly a century ago.
Authorities said although the microbes had not been stored correctly, they had been properly sealed, so posed no danger to staff. They have all been destroyed.
premises buildings and land used by an organisation or business
microbes small living things that can only be seen with a microscope
facilities (here) buildings containing equipment used for a particular activity
the plague a disease, usually deadly, that quickly spreads to lots of people
toxins poisonous substances
botulism serious illness caused by eating food that has gone bad
vial small bottle for keeping medicine or other liquids in
posed caused (a problem)