Harvard Medical School could face tens of thousands of dollars in fines after a third monkey died at the school\u2019s Southborough research center, a U. S. Department of Agriculture spokesman said yesterday. <\/p>\n
A squirrel monkey\u2019s death on Dec. 26, 2011 was one of three new citations Harvard\u2019s New England Primate Research Center received in a Jan. 31 inspection. The results of that inspection were released Sunday. <\/p>\n
\u201cTo look at this inspection report and see three direct non-compliances \u2014 that\u2019s a big deal,\u201d said David Sacks, a USDA spokesman. <\/p>\n
This is the third primate death in 19 months at the facility. <\/p>\n
The latest inspection describes three incidents where several monkeys were injured and one died because of employee carelessness. <\/p>\n
Sacks said the latest report is especially serious because all three citations are \u201cdirect non-compliance issues,\u201d meaning the animal\u2019s welfare was directly affectedby each misstep. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s kind of top on the list you don\u2019t want to be on,\u201d Sacks said. <\/p>\n
According to the report, a malfunctioning water dispenser led two monkeys to become dehydrated. One recovered but the other was euthanized. <\/p>\n
In addition, a squirrel monkey\u2019s leg was fractured in a cage door. A rhesus macaque monkey injured his foot after he and others escaped from a pen. <\/p>\n
Harvard Medical School on Sunday released a lengthy statement about its shortfalls. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur recent systems lapses are unacceptable and deeply troubling to us,\u201d the statement says. <\/p>\n
These are the latest in a string of USDA violations at the facility in two years, many of which Harvard reported itself. <\/p>\n
Two other primates died in Southborough, one in October and one in June 2010. Another died at a different Harvard Medical School facility in February 2011 from an anesthesia overdose. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re not having a good stretch right now,\u201d Sacks said. <\/p>\n
The Southborough facility conducts research on the cause and treatment of HIV and other diseases including colon cancer and sickle cell anemia. <\/p>\n
The facility has 2,058 monkeys and a staff of 190 faculty, fellows and support personnel. It has been registered with the USDA since 1967 and has made many major breakthroughs including producing the first unambiguous evidence that AIDS is caused by a virus. <\/p>\n
Sacks said the USDA has not yet determined the penalty Harvard will face. The investigation could take up to a year. <\/p>\n
USDA investigators are combining past and recent citations to determine how many times the facility violated the Animal Welfare Act. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all going to get wrapped up into one big investigation,\u201d Sacks said. <\/p>\n
Each violation is punishable with a fine of up to $10,000. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re looking at a penalty, no doubt,\u201d Sacks said. <\/p>\n
Harvard\u2019s statement is the only communication it has issued since the report\u2019s release on Sunday. <\/p>\n
The document outlines steps it plans to take to address the problems, including more closely monitoring the watering system and cages and re-training staff. <\/p>\n
Michael Budkie, executive director of Stop Animal Cruelty Now! said his animal rights organization would like a more in-depth investigation of the facility. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere is clearly a system-wide epidemic of fatal negligence at all of these Harvard-connected facilities,\u201d Budkie said. <\/p>\n
Per USDA guidelines, the facility will be subject to an unannounced reinspection in the next 45 days. <\/p>\n
(Laura Krantz can be reached at 508-626-4429 or lkrantz@wickedlocal.com<\/a>. Follow her on Twitter@laurakrantzmwdn.) <\/p>\n<\/p>\n View original post here: Harvard Medical School could face tens of thousands of dollars in fines after a third monkey died at the school\u2019s Southborough research center, a U. S. Department of Agriculture spokesman said yesterday Continue reading
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