But officials say there were no associated health risks.

The U.S. Army Medical Research of Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland, is at a standstill until the violations are fixed and it is re-instated with the Federal Select Agents Program, which allowed it to handle dangerous biological specimens.

“CDC can confirm FSAP has suspended USAMRIID’s registration with the Federal Select Agent Program until USAMRIID corrects deficiencies that have been identified by FSAP,” Sharon Hopkins said.

Hoskins did not provide further details of the lab’s compliance issues.

The lab’s suspension began July 18, according to a USAMRIID spokeswoman.

The issues stemmed from a May 2018 incident in which Fort Detrick’s steam sterilization plant, which handles biowaste, failed. After that, the lab transitioned to a chemical system to treat wastewater.

“The new system necessitated numerous changes in laboratory infrastructure, procedures, and work practices that substantially increased the complexity of operating in containment laboratories,” Caree Vander Linden told Army Times. “Mechanical issues and human error were among the issues cited by CDC in issuing the suspension.”

According to their website, they also investigate outbreaks and other public health risks, with an eye toward prevention policy and treatments, if possible.

USAMRIID has been working on an Ebola vaccine, and in March announced that the Food and Drug Administration had agreed to let it infect rhesus macaque monkeys with active virus in order to test the developing cure.

That research is now on hold, until USAMRIID is back in CDC compliance.