Decontamination by fumigation.

Since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre on September 11th 2001, and the subsequent deliberate release of anthrax spores into the postal system of the USA, NHS hospitals and microbiology pathology laboratories have had to consider how they would respond to a release of a hazardous biological agent. This article looks at the procedure of fumigation of a known contaminated area following spillage or handling of a biological agent, and considers the additional problems that would occur should areas outside a laboratory, such as hospital wards or ambulances, require fumigation.