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Update : Lab testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) revealed that the vials mark “ variola major ” actually contained vaccinia , the computer virus used in the smallpox vaccinum . They did not find any grounds that the phial contained the variola computer virus — the virus that induce smallpox , fit in to a statement the CDC released late on Nov. 18 .

While cleaning out a deep freezer in a Pennsylvania vaccine research facility , a laboratory actor describe several wintry ampul label " variola , " launching an FBI and CDC investigating , according to recent news reports .

Smallpox vaccine vials sitting on a counter in Mid-Florida Biologics in Altamonte Springs, Florida, before it was administered as part of a clinical trial.

Smallpox vaccine vials sitting on a counter in Mid-Florida Biologics in Altamonte Springs, Florida, before it was administered as part of a clinical trial.

Only two labs in the world — a CDC science lab in Atlanta , Georgia , and a Cold War - era bioweapons science lab in Russia — can lawfully hold samples of the deathly computer virus , Live Science previously reported . In the recent incident , a aggregate of 15 vials — five labeled " variola major " and 10 labeled " vaccinia " ( the computer virus used in variola major vaccines ) — were let out in the Merck installation , according to an " prescribed use only " alert sent out to the Department of Homeland Security leading on Tuesday ( Nov. 16 ) , and receive byYahoo News .

" There is no indication that anyone has been exposed to the small phone number of frozen vials , " the CDCsaid in a statementto Yahoo News . " The science laboratory worker who discovered the vials was wear gloves and a face mask . " The CDC , its administration partner and law enforcement are now investigating the matter , agree to the affirmation . " We will furnish further details as they are available , " the CDC said .

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Researcher examining cultures in a petri dish, low angle view.

Smallpox is a highly contagious disease because of the variola computer virus ; it " was one of the most devastating disease love to humanity , " causing millions of death before the existence ’s most successful inoculation campaign contribute to its obliteration in 1980 , grant to theWorld Health Organization .

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Smallpox is the only infectious disease to have been eradicated from the planet , with the last known natural shell reported in Somalia in 1977 .

The investigating led to a lockdown of the research readiness that has now been lifted , according to Yahoo News . The warning signal noted that the CDC would come on Wednesday ( Nov. 17 ) to take the vials to another adeptness for testing , concord to Yahoo News .

The Phoenix Mars lander inside the clean room the bacteria were found in

This is n’t the first clock time that ampule of smallpox have been found in a research lab ; in 2014 , National Institutes of Health employees discovered six ampul in a storage elbow room , harmonize to CNN .

Originally published on Live Science .

A NASA satellite image of Africa with the Democratic Republic of Congo marked with its flag.

three prepackaged sandwiches

A woman holds her baby as they receive an MMR vaccine

Pile of whole cucumbers

Pseudomonas aeruginosa as seen underneath a microscope.

a photo of Joe Biden during a speech

an illustration of Epstein-Barr virus

An image comparing the relative sizes of our solar system�s known dwarf planets, including the newly discovered 2017 OF201

a view of a tomb with scaffolding on it

an illustration showing a large disk of material around a star

A small phallic stalagmite is encircled by a 500-year-old bracelet carved from shell with Maya-like imagery

a person holds a GLP-1 injector

A man with light skin and dark hair and beard leans back in a wooden boat, rowing with oars into the sea

an abstract illustration depicting the collision of subatomic particles