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A scientist who nearly died after contracting meningitis while researching the disease in Wellington in 2005 is stunned by the findings of a new report which has cleared safety procedures in New Zealand laboratories.
Jeannette Adu-Bobie had been researching the meningococcal bacteria at an Environmental Science and Research (ESR) lab in Porirua for three weeks on a study visit before she was admitted to hospital with meningococcal B disease in March 2005.
She narrowly survived but three of her limbs had to be amputated.
At the time, ESR chief executive John Hay said laboratory staff were not in any danger if they followed standard operating procedures, and it was "a tragic coincidence".
In 2006, Dr Adu-Bobie raised concerns about work practices at the lab and questioned whether ESR had put her at risk.
The Labour Department agreed to review safety standards at research labs.
The report, issued to The Dominion Post under the Official Information Act, found there was no "clear or urgent need" for a change in New Zealand lab practices, despite acknowledging research showing infection of lab workers had occurred when they were handling the bacteria outside a cabinet.
Current safety standards provided "an acceptable level of protection" to scientists working with meningococcal bacteria, and were similar to measures in countries such as Australia and Britain, the report said.
"When I read the report, I couldn't believe I'd waited two years for it," Dr Adu-Bobie told The Dominion Post.
She said she could not understand the logic of the findings.
There were two procedures at the ESR lab that she believed were a possible risk of infection: plating solid bacteria on an open benchtop and the practice of keeping plates at a temperature that could cause condensation to form on the lids.
"A low risk is still a risk and given the devastation the infection causes, why does the report not clearly recommend the procedure of plating (bacteria) to be done in the (biosafety) cabinet?
"If you think there's a potential risk from plating on the bench, better be safe than sorry. A low risk is the chance of losing your legs."
She said the Labour Department had not adequately addressed her concerns and it seemed resistant to change.
A spokeswoman for the department said it was working through the issues Dr Adu-Bobie raised and would respond to her directly.
Dr Adu-Bobie has been in Britain for the past two years, rebuilding her life and studying at London's Imperial College with a goal of returning to scientific work.
- NZPA
