University suspends research in lab after illness

The University of Chicago has suspended research in a lab after a scientist developed a skin infection from the same kind of bacteria being studied there.

The scientist was hospitalized late last month and had surgery to remove the infected tissue but has been released.

The incident happened two years after another U of C scientist studying a weakened strain of plague contracted the disease and died.

The university says the cases are drastically different.

The new case involves a germ called B. cereus that can cause food poisoning. The university says it isn’t clear how the scientist got infected, but it has been disinfecting the lab as a precaution and contacted public health authorities.

No one else has gotten sick.