Local officials concerned about economic, public health impacts of Fort Detrick lab shutdown
Elected officials from Frederick County and the city of Frederick on Friday released two separate statements expressing concerns about the abrupt shutdown of a Fort Detrick research facility earlier this week.
Work at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease's Integrated Research Facility was halted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an agency official confirmed on Thursday.
But information about what led HHS to pause IRF-Frederick's research, which includes studying pathogens that cause 'high-consequence' disease, was not shared with local officials or with The Frederick News-Post upon request.
Allen Etzler, a spokesperson for the city of Frederick, said on Thursday that the federal government did not make city officials aware of the work stoppage at IRF-Frederick.
Frederick County spokesperson Vivian Laxton said she checked with heads of multiple county divisions and departments that would likely have been made aware of issues at the lab, but none of them had received information from the federal government either.
Representatives of HHS and the National Institutes of Health, which oversees NIAID, declined on Thursday to answer a detailed list of questions about the work stoppage at IRF-Frederick and instead deferred to a Fox News article.
NIH spokesperson Bradley Moss on Friday afternoon said he was still not authorized to release additional information to the News-Post.
In a joint statement on Friday, Frederick Mayor Michael O'Connor and the Frederick City Council said they were 'deeply troubled by the sudden cessation of operations' at the facility, which they called 'a vital asset in global infectious disease research and a cornerstone of our local economy.'
Due to the work stoppage, the city officials wrote, the livelihoods of 168 people who work at IRF-Frederick 'are now uncertain.'
Their statement continued:
'Halting research on high-consequence pathogens like Ebola and Lassa fever undermines decades of scientific progress and preparedness. This facility is one of the few in the world equipped to safely study these threats, and its closure represents a setback for both national and global public health.
'Equally troubling is the absence of communication with local leadership and stakeholders from the federal government. Unilateral decisions of this magnitude erode trust and hinder our ability to support our constituents effectively during times of uncertainty.
'We are coordinating with our federal delegation members and urge federal authorities to immediately engage with local and state partners to collaboratively develop a path forward that protects both the critical public health mission of NIAID's IRF and the economic stability of the City of Frederick and Frederick County. We stand ready to be part of that solution.'
Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, County Council President Brad Young and Council Member Jerry Donald also released a joint statement on Friday about the work stoppage at IRF-Frederick.
'The recent decision to halt research at the NIAID's Integrated Research Facility (IRF) at Fort Detrick is deeply concerning for Frederick County,' the county officials said. 'This facility has been at the forefront of studying deadly infectious diseases, including Ebola, and its work is crucial for public health and safety. The indefinite pause in its operations not only jeopardizes ongoing research but also undermines our preparedness for future outbreaks.'
The statement continued:
'Frederick County has long been a hub for scientific innovation and research. The IRF's contributions have not only advanced our understanding of infectious diseases but have also brought significant economic benefits to our community. The closure of this lab threatens to disrupt our local economy, potentially leading to job losses and a decline in scientific collaboration.
'We urge the federal government to reconsider this decision and recognize the vital role that the IRF plays in safeguarding public health and supporting our local economy. The work conducted at this facility is too important to be halted indefinitely.'
As of Friday, it was still not clear how long IRF-Frederick would remain shut down.
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