The latest development in a scandal started in May with regard to mishandling of live anthrax has been revealed by the Pentagon. US inspectors have carried out a review at a Defence Department laboratory and found plague samples that may be mislabeled. Entire issue started in May when the military said that it has accidentally sent out live anthrax samples from the Dugway Proving Ground research center in the Utah desert.

This caused the official to start an investigation to know how the military's secure labs take care of biological agents. Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook has confirmed that last month, inspectors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had found plague sample at the Army's Edgewood Chemical Biological Center in Maryland.

But the shocking part was that sample was not in a special containment area, where it should be. In fact, it was found in a freezer just outside. Cook was of the view, "Additional testing is being conducted to try and verify once and for all whether or not it was labeled correctly and placed in the right location".

Cook has raised concerns over the handling of equine encephalitis samples as well. Cook said that it is confirmed that there is no risk to workers or general public.