The government plans to check all research institutions in Japan to see if they are keeping dangerous viruses or bacteria and if they are taking steps to ensure such agents do not fall into the hands of terrorists, sources said Wednesday.
The government does not keep detailed data on institutions that might possess biological agents and how they are controlled.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry will survey national and local institutions, such as the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, for more than 40 types of biological agents, including anthrax and smallpox.