Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory is trying to reassure the public after a researcher was charged with trying to smuggle vials into the United States.
American authorities have accused Konan Michael Yao, 42, of trying to sneak 22 vials of biological material across the Manitoba-North Dakota border.
Court documents allege Yao told officers he was headed for a new job in Maryland and stole the vials so he wouldn't have to start over in his research.
The Public Health Agency of Canada did not name Yao Tuesday, but said the arrested man was a researcher who had not worked at the National Microbiology Lab since January.
American authorities say the researcher had been working on a vaccine for the Ebola virus and HIV.
However, the Canadian agency said he worked only with non-infectious material and never had access to high-level pathogens such as HIV or Ebola.
U.S. authorities say the material seized at the border appeared to be harmless, but they won't say what is it.
