Feds to Guard Contagious Disease Lab

Federal Agents Are Sent to Guard Island Lab That Studies Contagious Animal Diseases

July 7, 2004
The Associated Press

NEW YORK — The Department of Homeland Security has assigned agents to supplement private security patrols at an isolated government laboratory that studies contagious animal diseases, a congressman said Wednesday.

Federal officers began guarding the Plum Island Animal Disease Center on a part-time basis three weeks ago, Rep. Timothy Bishop said.

Two officers have been assigned to the island off the eastern tip of Long Island, according to Thomas Sheridan, the lab's director of operations. Newsday first reported the deployment in Wednesday's editions.

The Department of Homeland Security took over operations on the island from the Department of Agriculture in June 2003. The facility studies contagious animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever.

It is the only facility in the country that has vaccines for those diseases, making it a potential security target, according to an October report by congressional investigators.

Sheridan told Newsday that the federal force was not needed around the clock because the private security force is still employed on the island. He said in a telephone interview that the federal officers will serve mainly as liaisons with local law enforcement agencies.

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press.

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