Extinction Level Event (7 page)

Emerging infectious diseases are only half of the
worry that Krishnan and the rest of his colleagues have to deal
with. The other is the weaponization of diseases. Diseases such as
smallpox, anthrax, plague, and many others have been used
throughout history as weapons. In the modern age, guarding against
such weapons is an increasing problem, and CBEID is one of the key
institutions in the US working to find viable defenses against
biological warfare. While bio-defense has in general not been as
much to his liking as emerging diseases, over the years Krishnan
has accumulated a lot of experience in the field through his work
at CBEID. Krishnan studied anthrax, encephalitis, hemorrhagic
fever, Marburg virus, and other similar diseases through various
programs on viruses deemed to be suitable for “weaponization”. The
only known samples of the world’s deadliest diseases are kept in
quarantine at the Center for Disease Control’s headquarters in
Atlanta, Georgia.

Krishnan considers himself to be well aware of the
risks involved in such safekeeping. Extremely dangerous samples are
kept in quarantine by both the CDC and by other countries around
the world. Other dangerous experiments have also highlighted some
of the real problems posed by biodefense research. Krishnan
remembered the first time such a dangerous breakthrough occurred-
in 2005, the Center for Disease Control replicated the 1918 Spanish
Influenza Virus
³
. For the first time
ever a dangerous virus that had already caused a global epidemic,
killing millions in the process;- had been replicated
intentionally. Ten vials were created, each which contained 10
million infectious virus particles. According to the CDC, the virus
samples were re-created in order to be studied at secure labs
throughout the country. However, in order to reach the labs, of
which only a select few would receive the virus itself, the samples
would have to be shipped to the lab. Oftentimes the transportation
methods for such dangerous chemicals were ordinary transportation
means such as Federal Express or DHL. Krishnan often wondered why
they didn’t think some better mode of transportation couldn’t be
used. Of course, the highly sensitive packages were packaged with
extreme caution according to federal guidelines and safety
regulations, but of course the risk was real: the packages could be
lost, misplaced, or stolen. Despite all the safeguards, including
tracking devices, nothing could done with certainty. The risk was
forever present.

To more closely monitor such activities throughout
the country, and to better coordinate national biodefense research,
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security created the National
Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) in 2002. The
organization is based in the sprawling new research laboratory in
the U.S. Army’s Fort Detrick, Maryland
⁴
. Over 150 scientists work
in the lab researching biological prevention and containment
methods for use in the event of a bio-terrorist attack. The $143
million 160,000 square foot building houses a forensic testing
center, as well as a Biothreat Characterization Center which will
help to predict nature of attacks and aid the development of
countermeasures. The facility’s labs range from BioSafety Levels
1-4, with labs designated as “BSL-4” used to experiment and
quarantine the most dangerous agents, such as the Ebola virus. With
all this power at its disposal, it can be safely assumed that the
NBACC is the most advanced biodefense facility of its kind anywhere
in the world.

Many of the research projects assigned to CBEID come
directly from the Department of Homeland Security, and some are
collaborative work with NBACC. As such, Krishnan traveled to the
NBACC complex on two occasions. First, as a member of the NBACC
Oversight and Supervisory Committee, it was his duty to inspect the
lab when it was first opened. On his first visit he was taken aback
by the scale of the laboratory, the massive concrete walls and the
sheer quantities of cutting-edge technology and research space in
the building. The second visit was for the oversight a classified
project involving encephalitis countermeasures. Krishnan has never
worked inside one of the laboratories, even though he has toured
the entire building and knows the capabilities of NBACC. The NBACC
represented a resources-input increase of over 1000% for the United
States in the field of biodefense and biological weapons technology
when it first opened. Such a massive project naturally brought
criticism from many parties. One of the most stinging, yet potent
criticism was the accusation that the construction and funding of
NBACC violated the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
(BWC). The US government acknowledged that the lab constituted a
“legal gray zone”, but re-stated its position that it is fully
legal within the parameters of the BWC and is purely defensive in
nature.

When the debate broke out, Krishnan remained neutral.
It was not his role to either criticize or support the NBACC. He
understood the reasons why it was built, but silently acknowledged
to himself that the US Administration was demonstrating its
paranoia by constructed the NBACC. Nonetheless, he suspected that
he would get access due to his long history of involvement with
government agencies, his expertise, his international renown, and
his extensive resume. Of course, his U.S. citizenship and high
security clearance didn’t hurt either. The chance to be able to
work in the NBACC’s labs, or even use them for his research, was
too good to pass. Before the NBACC came into operation Krishnan had
the fortune of being appointed to the Oversight and Supervisory
Committee through his connections to insiders in the Homeland
Security Department.
One of the few naturalized citizens working
on this most secretive project.
The exclusivity of the project
always made Krishnan feel lucky and privileged to be involved,
especially considering the number of applicants that were rejected
for posts and positions at the lab.

Krishnan got out of his laboratory at 5:03pm. He was
going home early today to see his old friend from UCLA, Viktor
Konovalov.
Viktor. . .he would most certainly not get the post
that I have, what coming from Moscow and studying two years at
Moscow State University during the cold war. . . .
At UCLA
Krishnan and Konovalov had been roommates since sophomore year.
Both had graduated Summa cum Laude in Biology, and both had gone on
to pursue Ph.D’s and become respected scientists in their fields.
Konovalov is one of the few people in the world that Krishnan has a
truly great deal of respect for. After college, however, their
paths divulged: Krishnan went into microbiology, while Konovalov
had gone into genetics. Konovalov studied at Baylor College in
Houston, Texas. Afterwards he choose to make his residency in Texas
as well. Konovalov was equally as adept in genetics as he himself
was in virology and microbiology. Viktor had written numerous
journal articles, done groundbreaking research, received many
public honors, and in general was known as a maverick in the
field.

Konovalov’s most important, and publicized project,
has been the mapping of the human genome for the U.S. Human Genome
Project. Konovalov created new methods for rapid gene discovery
during his first years at the Genome Project. Later, he founded his
own genetics research division, the Genetics Research Institute of
Texas. There, he and his team decoded and sequenced genomes from
hundreds of organisms and kept the newly decoded genomes in the
Institute’s databanks. In recent years Konovalov’s research has
focused on environmental genomics and synthetic genomics. Synthetic
genomics is a relatively new field where geneticists genetically
modify existing organisms to produce a new strain or mutative
organism with specific qualities or behavior. Environmental
genomics is the study of genetic material from environmental
samples. Viktor entered the two emerging fields with the intent of
creating new novel genetic organisms, primarily bacteria, that
could be used as alternative fuels and biochemicals. Krishnan
grunted.
As long as there is no Society for the Protection of
Bacteria, of course, Victor should be able to do as he sees fit. .
. . but here in the U.S., anything is possible.

Viktor has written over a hundred journal articles
and made himself a millionaire through his private research
company, GeneZTech, headquartered at the Genetics Research
Institute. In later years the company moved to a private lot on the
outskirts of Houston.
Well, I may not be a millionaire like dear
Viktor, but I’m by no means doing badly. I haven’t seen him in
months though, now is a good time to catch up.
The reason
Krishnan was getting out of work early today was exactly that-
catch up time with his ex-roommate. Even though both were well
aware of the other’s accomplishments, and had a high degree of
mutual respect for one another, their jobs and families kept them
from communicating as much as they would have. As best friends
since college, it was traditional to meet at least several times a
year and chat. Now that Krishnan was working full-time in Texas, it
was much easier for them to see each other during weekends and
other holidays. It was a Friday, usually the kind of day that
Krishnan would stay in the lab until 9:00pm. Today, Krishnan is
heading to Panera for a healthy fast food dinner with his old
college friend. The only problem is that CBACC is a hour away from
Dallas, while Konovalov’s company is located near downtown
Houston.

The drive is about four hours, which is why Konovalov
will be staying tonight as his apartment. The kids and wife are in
Boston, Massachusetts for the kids' studies. That leaves the
apartment alone for the two men to play cards together the entire
night, gambling using fake bills as currency while discussing some
of humanity’s most advanced biotechnology and medical advances.
Most people would get lost in the conversation after ten minutes of
cards. Krishnan goes to his car planning a deep, insightful
conversation with the of the world’s leading geneticists and
scientists. He also plans on making Konovalov pay for dinner, since
he ends up winning most of the card games anyway. . . .

2:02pm Bakersfield, California

The white van with the letters marked ‘APHIS- Agency
of the US Department of Agriculture’ on the side sped down
Interstate 5 before exiting onto Route 58. Mark was at the wheel,
since it was his turn for a two-hour driving shift. The three team
members had stopped briefly to eat lunch an hour ago at a diner
before continuing on their way to Bakersfield. Now, Mark was
focused on driving through the traffic on the two-lane road on
their way to the site of the reported contamination. Mike was
prepared for anything, including staying several nights at a motel
if the situation required it. The traffic on the road was rather
light for California, but normal for a mid-afternoon weekday.
Driving during rush hour is generally considered a nightmare, all
the more so more so in California; and the closer that one is to
downtown Los Angeles, the more nightmarish the traffic seems to be.
Luckily the site was at least two hours from LA, and that meant
that moving along the side roads wouldn’t be a big problem.

“What’s the address again?”, Mark asked Mike. Mike,
sitting in the middle seat between Mark and Laurie, was scanning a
large map of California in front of him. “The address? Uhh, it's on
6 Lake Road. You’ll want to make a right about 14 miles from here,
and then continue. I’ll tell you where to turn”. Mark grunts,
focusing on the road ahead. Mike folds the map until it fits neatly
in his hands, and throws a glance out to his right. Laurie is busy
reading a scientific journal. Outside the window, McCarthy sees
vast tracts of farmland stretching as far out as the eye could see.
As one of the more important stretches of farmland in the United
States, California’s central valley is a breathtaking flat
landscape dotted with farmhouses and massive plots of green and
yellow agricultural land. The air is of a pristine, blue quality
with occasional white cumulus clouds that one will rarely see in
the cities of Los Angeles or San Francisco. From this distance, the
Sierra Nevada mountain range to the west is not visible to the
naked eye. Mike shifts his gaze back to the front of the vehicle.
Flatland, flatland, and when we get there- more flatland!
While the air quality is nearly pristine, ignoring the methane from
the cattle farms and some gasoline fumes, the ground quality of the
central valley does not receive such high commendation from
visitors as the air quality. Fertilizers, pesticides, farm run-off
have caused extensive problems in the groundwater, and the soil
starts to become depleted after constant usage. There is nothing
natural in the valley, as most of the previous natural rock
formations and natural species have been removed through farming
and town building. It is a large, flat, and man-made landscape.

After making the right turn, Mike turned back to the
map. Directing Mark through the dispersed country roads, the team
arrived at the site of the reported contamination at 2:42pm. Mark
pulled into the long, dusty driveway of the farm and drove up to
the large, red farmhouse at the end of the driveway before shutting
down the engine. Two men were waiting for them outside the
farmhouse, sitting at a table on the patio while drinking
beverages. The first is a grizzled, sunburned man in farmer’s
trousers, the other a thin balding man in work-casual clothing.
Laurie, Mark, and Mike get out of the truck and walk over to the
two men. The balding man extends his hand, first going over to
Mike. “Peter LaJoy. I work with the Department of Agriculture LA
office”. “How’s it going? Michael McCarthy. We’re with APHIS from
Stockton.” “Greg Miles, how you doing? I own the place.” “Mark
McGregor”. “Laurie Weisman, please to meet you”. After the quick
introductions everyone got right down to business. McCarthy spoke
directly to LaJoy and Miles, while Laurie and Mark listened as
everyone gathered around the table. “Alright. The APHIS office
received your report. Sorry we couldn’t get here earlier but it’s a
long trip down”. Mike turns to Miles, “you stated that your worms
died after you used the herbicide Groundup Superpower?”. “Yeah,
exactly”, replies Miles sternly. “May we take a look?” “Sure. Let’s
go.”