India, Nov. 24 -- Serious lapses in biomedical waste management at the State Tuberculosis Training and Demonstration Centre (STDC) in Aundh have sparked alarm over potential exposure to drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) pathogens. Containers used to transport samples of DR-TB patients from across Maharashtra are reportedly being dumped in the open on the centre's terrace, instead of being safely processed and discarded, raising health concerns.

The STDC receives highly infectious TB samples from western Maharashtra for laboratory testing, research and analysis. However, the improper handling and storage of contaminated containers poses a direct threat not only to laboratory employees but also to people working in other facilities house...