The Newark Star-Ledger reported yesterday that three mice carrying plague are missing from a bioterrorism laboratory in Newark, N.J., run by an outfit called the Public Health Research Institute:

Officials said the animals could have been stolen from the center or simply misplaced in a colossal accounting error at one of the top-level bio-containment labs in the state.

The incident occurred more than two weeks ago and was confirmed only yesterday after questions were raised by The Star-Ledger….

State Health Commissioner Fred Jacobs said mice infected with plague die “very fast,” so “the risk to the public … is probably slim to none.”

Today, the Star-Ledger follows up with a second article that says the FBI has ordered the Institute to improve its security systems (more mousetraps?):

The federal agency, called in by the institute’s director, David Perlin, after lab workers realized the animals were missing, told the institute to upgrade video cameras and take other measures to secure the facility.

“A person made a mistake, and it was a big mistake,” said Perlin, who also is chief scientist of the institute. Researchers realized on Aug. 29 that they had lost track of three laboratory mice infected with deadly bubonic plague. The mice remain unaccounted for…”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “the World Health Organization reports 1,000 to 3,000 cases of plague worldwide every year. An average of 5 to 15 cases occur each year in the western United States.” Sorry, there’s no vaccine.

Update: Reader Edward T. passes along a comment overheard on Fox & Friends this morning by Steve Doocy…

Perhaps the Dept. of Homeland Security can dispatch some cats to NJ to apprehend these Plague-Mice-Agents.

DHS hasn’t shown itself very competent at dispatching anything, lately. Maybe we should get Wal-Mart to do the job

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