FOX News
Officials: 6 Harvard University Medical Researchers Poisoned
Sunday, October 25, 2009
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,569505,00.html?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a4:g4:r5:c0.000000:b0:z5

BOSTON — Six Harvard University medical researchers who became sick
in August after drinking coffee were poisoned, according to university
officials.

In a memo released Friday, the school says the victims all drank from
a coffee machine on Aug. 26 that later tested positive for sodium
azide, a common preservative used in labs.

The memo, written by Daniel G. Ennis, executive dean for
administration, and Richard M. Shea, associate dean for physical
planning and facilities, does not say whether officials believe the
poisoning was intentional.

"We are in the process of installing additional security cameras
throughout our buildings, and we are strengthening the security
systems that manage access to the laboratories during both normal
business hours and off hours," the memo states.

The six reported symptoms ranging from dizziness to ear ringing, and
one passed out. They were treated at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical
Center and later released.

The researchers, which include staff and students, all work in the
Harvard Medical School's pathology department in its new Boston
research building. They were using mice to investigate how diseases
interact with the immune system.

Harvard spokesman David Cameron said no student or employee has been
disciplined. The Suffolk District Attorney's Office said it was not
aware of the incident, and the Boston Police Department was not
investigating.

According to the memo, the federal Occupational Safety and Health
Administration as well as the Boston Public Health Commission are
conducting an investigation.

WCVB-TV5 (Boston, MA)
Harvard Memo On Poisoning
October 25, 2009
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/21418696/detail.html

(This internal memo that was sent out on Friday by Daniel G. Ennis,
Executive Dean for Administration; and Richard M. Shea, Associate Dean
for Physical Planning and Facilities.)

Dear HMS Community Members,

As you may be aware, we have been investigating an incident that
occurred on August 26, 2009, when six members of our community were
seen in the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center emergency room after
drinking coffee from the same single serve, manual-fill coffee machine
located in an open common area on the eighth floor of the HMS New
Research Building (NRB). All reported similar symptoms. Five employees
were treated and released that day; one was held overnight and
released the next morning.

Since late August, an HMS leadership team has been working closely
with Harvard University Police Department and a team of health and
safety experts on an extensive investigation of the incident. We also
are in contact with the Boston Public Health Commission and
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

While we do not yet know how this incident occurred, we have recently
learned that sodium azide, a preservative commonly used in
laboratories, was present in the coffee consumed by the six employees.
As the investigation continues, we are being prudent and taking
additional precautionary measures to ensure the well being of our
community.

As always, we are mindful of the need to be diligent about laboratory
safety and security and the importance of proper management of
laboratory chemicals. Last year we convened a task force to make
recommendations that will further promote the security and safety of
laboratories throughout HMS, and we are now in the process of
implementing a number of these recommendations, which include the
following:

* Safety professionals will be meeting with laboratory representatives
to discuss ways to enhance the best practices already in place
throughout HMS for chemical usage and management.

* We are in the process of installing additional security cameras
throughout our buildings, and we are strengthening the security
systems that manage access to the laboratories during both normal
business hours and off hours.

HMS leadership is committed to doing everything possible to understand
what may have occurred, and we will notify you at the conclusion of
the ongoing investigation.

We ask that you share this information with your team and students as
you feel appropriate, either by meeting with them or forwarding this
email.

Sincerely,

Daniel G. Ennis Executive Dean for Administration
Richard M. Shea Associate Dean for Physical Planning and Facilities