Most of the time, no one could give a rat’s behind about any missing mice. But when they’re infected with a deadly strain of plague, that’s another story.
BY TED SHERMAN AND JOSH MARGOLIN
Star-Ledger Staff
NEWARK — The frozen remains of two lab mice infected with deadly strains of plague were lost at a bioterror research facility at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark — the same high-security lab where three infected mice went missing four years ago.
The latest incident, which led to an FBI investigation, occurred in December but was never disclosed to the public.
University officials said there was no health threat.
The remains of the dead mice were contained in a red hazardous waste bag being stored in a locked freezer, according to the researchers. But an animal care supervisor could not account for them while preparing to sterilize and incinerate them.
