The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report following unintentional anthrax exposure early in June. According to the after-action report, released by the CDC director, various factors have been noted as contributing to the incident, while actions have been taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

The incident, which took place at the CDC’s Roybal Campus in early June, involved accidental exposure of personnel to potentially viable anthrax.

According to the CDC, it is very unlikely that staff members were exposed to the anthrax. Additionally, none of the staff members who were potentially exposed became ill or showed signs or symptoms related to anthrax exposure.

Following an internal review that was called into action by the CDC director, the report found that the potential exposure is linked to failure on scientists’ behalf to follow an approved, written study plan that adhered to all laboratory safety requirements.

Some of the CDC’s measures to prevent such an occurrence in the future, according to the report, include establishing an external advisory group for laboratory safety and establishing a CDC-wide single point of accountability for laboratory safety.

According to the National Institutes of Health, anthrax is a disease resulting from Bacillus anthracis, a germ that commonly lives in soil. When diagnosed early, anthrax can be cured with antibiotics.