On Friday, April 10, a University of Madison Wisconsin lab employee was arrested for reckless endangerment after an incident in the UW Madison lab. Makoto Kurada, researcher in the UW-Madison Department of Pathobiological Sciences, known mainly for his research on SARS-CoV2 vaccination and Ebola virus particles, was connected to the release of an “unknown chemical,” according to Channel 3000. Per the UW-Madison Police Department Incident Report, an “unknown odor” warranted the investigation, and “Evidence was collected and later tested positive for the presence of a chemical.” Kuroda confessed after investigation and interrogation by UW-Madison police, and was promptly arrested.
Speculations have risen from the UW-Madison student body. On the UW-Madison subreddit, user u/Affectionate_Tea6482 says “[Makoto Kurdoda] works in the Department of [Pathobiological] Sciences. If you search the name + UW Madison you will get lots of studies recently on Ebola and SARS. Sounds like a BSL2 [Bio Safety Level] or BSL3 lab,” who was then corrected by user u/lilac_chevrons, saying “Ebola is a BSL level 4 pathogen and there aren’t any BSL 4 labs on campus.” The user adds “Although there’s a history (with a different faculty member) of getting into trouble on this… But that didn[‘]t actually involve ‘live’ Ebola.” Another replier on the forum thread, user u/medted22, says “these viruses wouldn’t likely be reported as a “chemical”, as they are not and wouldn’t produce any odor. I’m guessing it was more along the lines of there was a volatile compound probably mixed with water and was off-gassing.”
Details and specifics of the chemical(s) at play in the incident remain unclear. According to the report, “The incident appears to be isolated and there is no known threat to public safety. The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges may be filed.”
Featured image: Channel 3000
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