On Monday, Pentagon has admitted that a US Army lab has mistakenly shipped live anthrax to at least 192 labs over the past 10 years. The list includes labs in all 50 states and Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Washington, DC. In June, the agency reported less than the number admitted lately.

Ineffective sterilization methods for killing the bacteria led to live anthrax at labs. Department of Defense's Laboratory Review site has unveiled that seven other countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and the UK had also received the shipments.

The US Army's Dugway Proving Ground facility in Utah has been considered to be central to the international scandal over its shipment of live anthrax. In May, the Defense Department said that it has accidentally sent live anthrax to labs in nine states and South Korea.

In June, the number increased to more than 51 labs in 17 states and three other countries. A Pentagon investigation into the incident unveiled at least 192 labs. The investigation could not reveal about the main cause of the shipments.

The Department of Defense said that it has been working on ways meant for proper handling and deactivation of anthrax pathogens. Bob Work, the agency's deputy secretary, stated that till the time, the process does not get complete, moratorium on the production and transport of anthrax has been imposed.