Reports of smallpox vials found at Merck plant outside Philadelphia

Smallpox was declared eradicated  in 1980 by the World Health Organization, after an effort to vaccinate the globe. But several vials labeled as the disease were found at a Pennsylvania vaccine research facility belonging to Merck, when a laboratory worker was cleaning out a freezer.

There’s no indication that anyone was exposed to the vials, the CDC told CNN in an email. The lab worker was wearing gloves and a face mask, and the FBI is now investigating.