What specific steps did CDC take to address AAALAC’s concerns?
CDC conducted a comprehensive review and took immediate and decisive actions to review its procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of its workforce and the animals entrusted to its care for important public health research. Steps taken included: • CDC recruited additional professional staff and outside consultants with expertise in managing laboratory animal facilities. Working together with CDC’s regular staff, these experts were charged with the mission to quickly modernize the animal care procedures and practices. This charge included ensuring both the continued safety of workers and the highest standards of ethical and humane care of animals in CDC’s research program. • CDC invested an additional $3 million in 2006 to complete important upgrades to laboratory research facilities and to purchase an electronic records management system for its animal care program. • Workers completed additional safety training and job-risk analyses. Appropriate employees are now entered into a
