Pache.co Information Technologies

Members of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors had words for another local elected official regarding the illegal biological lab in Reedley.

Fresno County Public Health Assistant Director Joe Prado and Reedley City Manager Nicole Zieba provided an update on Prestige Biotech’s lab abatement in Reedley.

Prado said the information he presented was gathered through the work of 14 federal, state and local agencies.

Prado said that when Universal Meditech, which was acquired by Prestige Biotech in 2020, was operating at its Fresno location at 1320 E. Fortune Ave., mice were found, confirming they did have lab operations there.

He said the hazardous materials permit approved for the Fresno location was not transferable to Reedley.

As the county and the City of Reedley continue the investigation and abatement of the facility, more items are being discovered, such as samples of urine and used pregnancy tests, Prado said.

Tuesday is the last day of abatement of equipment, freezers, refrigerators, furniture and fixtures at the Reedley facility, Zieba said.

Zieba responded to questions of why the City of Reedley and the county did not provide the public more information sooner. They were informed by the FBI and other agencies to not release any information that could hinder the investigation.

She also mentioned the multiple conspiracy theories coming out day after day about the illegal lab and its activities.

“I have watched a local politician on national television talking about Communist Chinese labs that are manipulating viruses,” Zieba said.

She said that the owners of the company are Chinese nationals, but there is no evidence of a Chinese government connection or virus manipulation. 

Zieba mentioned a local Reedley myth that a nearby grocery store had to shut down because lab mice escaped and spread the Coronavirus there. It was actually shut down due to a collapsing roof, Zieba said.

District 1 Supervisor Brian Pacheco said he personally became aware of the issue on July 27, when his staff informed him of the breaking story from Mid Valley Times.

On July 31, Fresno City Council Member Garry Bredefeld held a city hall press conference asking why supervisors and health officials didn’t inform the public sooner.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Pacheco called out Bredefeld’s comments, saying that he used this issue as fuel for his campaign against Supervisor Steve Brandau.

During Bredefeld’s press conference, he said that supervisors had known about the lab for months, which is inaccurate, Pacheco said.

He said that some supervisors knew about the issue earlier than others.  

“It seems to me that the responsible person would have got the facts before holding a press conference with inaccurate information to scare the public and for more self-promotion,” Pacheco said.

Pacheco said some members of the board are owed an apology by Bredefeld.