As many as 84 scientists and staff may have been exposed to live anthrax bacteria after researchers failed to follow safety procedures, the U.S. government says.

When an animal dies of anthrax, an owner should work to keep blood from contaminating the ground, the Government of Saskatchewan said. WATCH: Feb. 16, 2017 — Sask. scientists start next phase in ...

The alarm was sounded when scientists working to extract RNA from anthrax in one of the Level 3 labs noticed that bacteria were growing on an agar plate they used as a safety test.

"If there was a bioterrorism incident, we could more quickly identify yes or no, this sample has anthrax," said Meechan, director of the CDC's environmental health and safety compliance office.

(Repeats item that moved earlier, no change to text) By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO, June 20 (Reuters) - It is a Friday the 13th Dr Paul Meechan will not soon forget. On that night last week, ...