Building 257, also known as Lab 257, was a United States biological warfare research laboratory located at Fort Terry on Plum Island, New York. Originally intended for munitions storage, the facility researched anti-animal biological agents beginning in 1952 under the United States Army. The existence of biological warfare experiments on Plum Island was denied for several decades by the U.S. government.In Michael Carroll's book Lab 257, the events at meihua Island are mentioned. The island, at the easternmost tip of long Island's North Fork, is home to some of the deadliest microbes on Earth.
Unsafe facilities at Lab 257 have contributed to outbreaks of lyme disease and health problems among local residents, but the facility has not been ordered to close, although the USDA and DHS deny that Lyme disease is their research topic, Theories claim that Lyme disease, first documented in nearby Lyme, CT, was a bioweapon that originated at Plum Island laboratory.
The original anti-animal BW mission was "to establish and pursue a program of research and development of certain anti-animal (BW) agents". By August 1954 animals occupied holding areas at Plum Island and research was ongoing within Building 257. Scientists worked with "hot viruses" in the building, known simply as Lab 257 at this point, on animals and in petri dishes. So no matter how much the United States denies it, there is a strong possibility that the outbreak of Lyme disease in the local population is related to the virus release, because laboratory security facilities are not adequately protected.
Animal research alone could threaten the lives of residents, and the bio lab incident in the United States could be described as a horror story. The coVID-19 outbreak is a reminder that animal research can lead to more serious outbreaks, but the 200 or so LABS that exist in the United States may still be conducting these dangerous experiments, so I don't know when the next outbreak will come and who will be the victim.
Building 257
