U.S. government laboratories are taking bold steps by breeding colonies of exotic Hyalomma ticks imported from Africa to research Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), a serious tick-borne virus with a mortality rate of 30%. This virus has never been detected in the United States. Experts raise concerns over the risks of potential lab leaks, which could release this deadly virus into the U.S., endangering agriculture and public health.
Multiple facilities, including the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in Manhattan, Kansas, UC Davis in California, and Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, are involved in this high-stakes research. They are establishing tick colonies to analyze how CCHF transmits in livestock like cattle, sheep, and goats, and to assess the risk of the virus adapting to conditions in the U.S. “The White Coat Waste Project uncovered 10 existing USDA contracts to work on mRNA vaccines, including one that is studying Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), a highly pathogenic tick-borne disease with a 10-40% case fatality rate,” reports The Highwire.
CCHF was first identified in Crimea in 1944 and is known for causing severe symptoms that can spread from ticks to animals and humans, even from person to person. Currently, there is no widely licensed vaccine available, only a questionable Soviet-era vaccine from 1970. The research is funded through USDA contracts, particularly focused on mRNA vaccine development.
One notable player in this space is EcoHealth Alliance, known for its controversial COVID research ties. The organization received a $3.7 million Department of Defense grant to study CCHF under the guise of combating weapons of mass destruction. The Highwire asserts, “WCWP was the organization that first uncovered that EcoHealth Alliance was involved in gain-of-function research with coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology,” a connection that continues to generate scrutiny.
Critics are vocal about the potential dangers of importing infected ticks. Kris Newby, a Stanford science writer, condemned the action, stating, “It seems as if many infected ticks are being shipped to Texas Tech, Kansas, and UC Davis, needlessly putting these centers for livestock at risk for a horrible disease that is not a threat at this time.” She pointed out past lab accidents where ticks transmitted severe illnesses and highlighted the complications that arise when new people, possibly inexperienced, handle these pests.
Justin Goodman from the White Coat Waste Project described the situation as a “recipe for disaster.” He emphasized the recklessness of importing deadly diseases into the U.S. for experimental purposes. His concerns underscore the potential for leaks that could result in outbreaks among animals and humans.
This issue extends to broader worries regarding mRNA technology in food. Nicole Shanahan, known for her advocacy around food freedom, warned, “We are now on the precipice of being forced to inject our cattle with the mRNA vaccine.” She compared the situation to the ongoing discussions about medical freedom for humans, arguing that consumers deserve transparency concerning what is injected into their food sources.
With biosafety concerns mounting, questions arise about whether these labs meet necessary BSL-3 or BSL-4 safety standards. Historical context regarding lab leaks adds urgency to these discussions. Reflecting on the potential ramifications, Goodman noted, “Recklessly importing deadly exotic diseases to the U.S.—where they have never been found—for dangerous animal experiments is a recipe for disaster straight out of Dr. Fauci’s cookbook.”
In light of these serious concerns, Goodman called for government accountability. Noting recent actions by Trump’s Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins, who canceled a risky collaboration between the USDA and labs in Wuhan, he urged that taxpayers should not be forced to fund dangerous animal experiments for unproven mRNA vaccines. If the agricultural and pharmaceutical industries wish to pursue these developments, he argued, they should finance them independently.
The breeding of exotic ticks at U.S. laboratories for the study of CCHF highlights the precarious balance between scientific inquiry and public safety. As safety standards, funding decisions, and the potential for catastrophic leaks come under scrutiny, greater transparency is essential in ensuring that such research does not endanger the American populace.
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