Very interesting article. Just a little warning for everyone though. This looks like an article originally published by the UK Daily Telegraph which is only rated a Mixed accuracy by Mediabiasfactcheck.com
While this is possible that the lab had a leak. According to my colleague who is federal food inspector and former Veterinarian who worked mostly with zoo animals and life stock abroad. And now preparing for US licensure as DVM. The amount of products such as fruits, vegetables and others contain bath bites and viruses passed from baths and mise that have a chance to pass from baths, mise and insects to humans are increasing. So I can see why the scientists would want to immunize baths etc.
Exactly. It's how the press (and I think some Senators) were complaining about grants to study the fruit flies. Fruit flies multiply quickly and historically were a popular model for basic genetics research, so on its face, it's an organism worth studying.