[SoCool]

Something is being covered up and the explanation for such huge mistake doesn't add up. 1. Why was such a large amount of a potent virus stored in one container or multiple container? 2. Why all of it was available to a single/group of persons ? 3. If it's a group of person, then it must be a planned act. 4. How can Pharmaceutical companies pour something directly into the water channels without going through some kind of filteration and detection system ? 5. Why there is not more internet/media coverage on a such a big incident ?

[kordless]

You can safely assume there are drains in the floor wherever these things are stored. The drains would be for carrying away cleaning solutions for the environment.

Someone broke something, or opened something, or knocked over something. 45 liters of water is about 100 US pounds, so it was probably a single smallish, somewhat portable storage unit that got affected.

I agree the wording is less than ideal, but I'm not sure there is a 'coverup'.

[gonzo]

I can tell you've never seen a level 3+ lab.

Polio requires level 4.

http://www.biosafety.be/Polio/GlobalActionPlanWHO.pdf

[ceejayoz]

Your link directly contradicts you.

> Wild polioviruses are classified as risk group 2. The rationale for the minimal biosafety levels is the near universal immunization of the population with OPV and/or IPV. Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) is the currently recommended minimal standard for all countries. To ensure safe handling of wild polioviruses and potentially infectious materials as eradication nears (Pre-Eradication), BSL-2, hereafter referred to as BSL-2/polio, should be enhanced by specific practices described in this document (Box 10).

[electromagnetic]

Don't attribute to malice what can be attributed to simple stupidity.

It was 45L of concentrated polio virus solution. 45L is about the upper limit of a human portable storage vessel for liquids. 10 gallon portable water coolers are common, and we're talking 12 gallons here.

My guess is someone was corner-rolling it to transport it a short distance rather than getting a coworker or using a dolly. All it takes is the lid being improperly secured and all that liquid is going down a floor drain.

The virus doesn't live long outside the body, with the exception being an infected person faeces.

This is likely not receiving much media attention because it's not a big incident. Aside from a few waste treatment workers who'll have to be extra cautious the city will simply cut back on workers going down into the sewers for a couple weeks.

Unless faeces are getting into the water supply, there's negligible risk. And if faeces were getting into the water supply, there'd be a bigger news story here than this incident.

[Dolimiter]

"Something is being covered up"

That's an extraordinary claim - I presume you have extraordinary evidence? I mean... this is Hacker News, not a conspiracy website.

[unethical_ban]

Maybe because every question he asked is something that doesn't add up with the story.

[ceejayoz]

Hardly. They're all easily answerable.

1. Because vaccine manufacture likely requires large amounts.

2. Because polio isn't particularly dangerous in Belgium.

3. See 2.

4. Because that drain was probably for safe waste fluids, not polio solution.

5. See 2.