The investigation began with the discovery of a single garden hose fastened improperly and protruding from the building’s rear wall. Bioengineered mice, infectious agents, roughly 30 refrigerators and freezers, incubators, and other equipment were found in a big illegal medical lab that was discovered in a warehouse in Reedley, California. To quote Reedley’s city manager, “Frankly, we knew that should not have been there, and when she went to investigate, she found that there was activity or operation or something happening within that building,” Nicole Zieba.
The city then got a warrant to search the seemingly regular warehouse. They discovered thousands of bottles inside, many of which contained potentially dangerous things including human blood. Over 800 unique compounds in countless acid bottles were present. “Unfortunately, many of these are being classified as unknown chemicals,” lamented Joe Prado, assistant director of the Fresno County Department of Public Health. There was only so much testing done because so many of the labels had been removed from the bottles. Those chemicals would work for us. Nearly a thousand lab mice were found, along with 200 bodies, by health officials.
According to Prado, the warehouse’s occupants stated they were “doing some testing on laboratory mice that would help them support, developing the COVID test kits that they had on-site.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reportedly conducted what testing they could and found at least 20 different viruses, germs, and parasites, including E. coli, malaria, and the virus that causes chronic respiratory distress syndrome type 19. “This is a very peculiar circumstance. My career in public service spans 25 years. “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Zieba remarked. Prado echoed this sentiment, saying, “I’ve never seen this in my 26 years with the County of Fresno.”
The materials were removed from the site over the course of many weeks by authorities from local, state, and federal agencies. “I think because of that swift action that was taken we had been able to maintain public safety this entire time,” Prado said. “We can no longer obtain any biologicals. There are no longer any mice, but they will see us exterminating when we move out the 30 freezers and refrigerators, medical equipment, and various pieces of furniture. Zieba assured the public that while there will still be some activity, it will be completely safe. Officials have yet to determine the nature of the activity that took place there. According to Prado, the proprietors used the name Prestige Biotech, and the president of the company was secretive. There is also an active criminal investigation.
