An investigation into a warehouse in Reedley, California, unveiled an illegal large-scale medical lab. The lab housed bioengineered mice, infectious agents, almost 30 refrigerators and freezers, incubators, and more. The investigation was initially triggered by an illicitly attached garden hose coming from the warehouse’s rear wall.
Local authorities obtained a search warrant and discovered thousands of vials inside the warehouse, many of which contained bio-hazardous materials such as human blood and other unidentified substances. According to Joe Prado, Assistant Director of the Fresno County Department of Public Health, over 800 different chemicals were on site, many with removed labels, making identification challenging.
Additionally, health officials found nearly 1,000 lab mice, 200 of which were dead. The warehouse occupants claimed they were using the mice for testing to support the development of COVID test kits.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials tested what they could and found at least 20 potentially infectious viral, bacterial, and parasitic agents, including E. coli, malaria, and the virus that causes COVID-19.
“This is an unusual situation. I’ve been in government for 25 years. I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Reedley City Manager Nicole Zieba. Prado, with his 26-year career in Fresno County, echoed this sentiment.
Over several weeks, officials from local, state, and federal agencies removed materials from the location. Still, the exact nature of the operations inside the building remains unclear. The owners operated under the name Prestige Biotech, and the company president has not been forthcoming with information. A criminal investigation is ongoing, and all the mice within the lab had to be euthanized.