Mice infected with the plague go missing from a lab in New Jersey

(CBS/AP) Three mice infected with the bacteria responsible for bubonic plague apparently disappeared from a laboratory about two weeks ago, and authorities launched a search though health experts said there was scant public risk.

The mice were unaccounted-for at the Public Health Research Institute, which is on the campus of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and conducts bioterrorism research for the federal government.

Federal official said the mice may never be accounted for. Among other things, the rodents may have been stolen, eaten by other lab animals or just misplaced in a paperwork error. Eaten is considered most likely.

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What a country we live in, where it takes two weeks to learn of things like this.



[edit on 17-9-2005 by NWguy83]

This is really no big deal, the plauge is still an active sickness in the U.S. It would be like rats with the flu escaping, who cares? It really doesn't mean a damn thing.

Yeah I live in New Mexico, about four people a year get sick from the plauge but they usually don't die unless they are old or sick otherwise. (not that I'm implying old people are sick) It's really nothing to worry about. Just don't go around smelling rat feces.