Reedley, a central California city, has been left in shock after the discovery of an illegal lab hidden inside a nondescript warehouse. The lab contained deadly pathogens such as coronavirus, HIV, and malaria. The existence of the lab was only uncovered by chance when an errant hose was spotted protruding from the back of the warehouse last spring. The biotech company operating the lab had connections to China, and city officials were unaware of its presence until that moment. The warehouse was filled with industrial freezers, vials of viruses, and approximately 1,000 dead and dying lab mice.
Upon further investigation, government officials found Covid diagnostic and pregnancy tests at the underground facility. They believed that these tests were being developed there, along with at least 20 stored infectious agents, including coronavirus, HIV, hepatitis, and herpes. The company responsible for running the lab, Prestige Biotech, was unlicensed to operate in California. The president of Prestige Biotech, Xiuquin Yao, claimed it was a successor to the now-defunct Universal Meditech Inc. However, when officials tried to trace the addresses associated with the companies, they either found empty office buildings or unverified addresses in China.
After a months-long investigation, all dangerous chemicals and substances were properly disposed of in early July. The lab’s origins are still under investigation, but officials assure the safety of the surrounding area. The initial discovery of the warehouse was made by a code enforcement officer who noticed a garden hose in an unusual location. A subsequent search warrant revealed improperly labeled chemicals and biohazards, including various viruses, bacteria, and malaria, as well as the presence of dead lab mice.
While immediate dangers have been resolved and power to the building has been cut off, concerns remain about possible contamination in the area due to improper waste disposal and leakage of dangerous bacteria and viruses. The discovery of this black-market lab in Reedley, California, triggered a combined state, local, and federal investigation. Reedley City Manager Nicole Zieba expressed astonishment at the situation, stating that she had never seen anything like it in her 25 years of government work.
During the search of the warehouse, officials found around 1,000 lab mice stored in inhumane conditions, with approximately 200 already dead. Assistant Director of the Fresno County Department of Public Health, Joe Prado, explained that the lab was using these mice for testing related to the development of Covid test kits found on-site. However, he did not confirm whether any of these tests were distributed to the public.
Various vials containing biomaterials, including blood and tissue, were discovered, along with unlabeled chemicals. Some of these chemicals were found to contain coronavirus, as well as other bacterial and viral pathogens like HIV, chlamydia, E. coli, hepatitis B and C, herpes, rubella, and malaria. The investigation revealed that the lab was not properly licensed, and although hazardous chemicals were disposed of correctly, specific details about the lab operators, its purpose, and the individuals behind it remain unknown.
Prado highlighted the lack of proper controls and protocol in place at the warehouse, emphasizing the absence of precautions necessary for handling infectious agents. Besides the lab mice, officials found refrigerators and freezers containing blood and containers labeled as “serum or plasma.”
The lab was linked to Prestige Biotech, a company registered in Las Vegas. Xiuquin Yao, identified as the president of Prestige Biotech, claimed that it had taken over the Reedley warehouse previously operated by Universal Meditech Inc. However, when officials tried to investigate locations connected to either company, they discovered abandoned offices or unverified addresses in China.
City officials claim that those associated with Prestige Biotech have not cooperated fully with the investigation. While the investigation is ongoing, there is hope for more answers in the future. The immediate biohazard threat has been eliminated, but the removal of 30 freezers, fridges, medical equipment, and furniture is still underway. This situation has attracted the attention of federal partners, who continue their own investigations alongside the city’s efforts.
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