A deadly avian flu virus was accidentally shipped from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this year because a scientist wanted to finish work early.

The scientist took shortcuts and contaminated samples, confusing vials of the avian flu virus with a benign animal strain that was supposed to be sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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Instead of the relatively harmless animal strain, the deadly avian flu virus was mistakenly sent to the Department of Agriculture.

Anne Schuchat, director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said they're pretty sure the person took short cuts.

"In laboratory work, it's so important to follow every step, and when you're working with unusual pathogens, it's even more important that every single step is followed."

Schuchat denied that the error was due to inexperience or poor training.

Although there are no written records of the procedures on that day, CDC officials believe the scientist was more likely working on the two strains at the same time because he was in a rush.

The scientist, who was not named, admitted to the mistake. He was rushing to a laboratory meeting and had only 15 minutes to get to it.

Also, the influenza department was distracted at that time due to preparations for an upcoming vaccine meeting of the World Health Organization.

Luckily, no one fell ill due to the mistake. Upon discovery of the mistake, the pathogen was quickly destroyed.

Oddly enough, CDC lab staff didn't inform their supervisors about the error until more than six weeks after the incident.

A CDC investigation revealed the primary reason for the report delay were the "lack of sound professional judgment" by those who knew of the contamination and "insufficient or ambiguous" requirement for reporting such incidents.

CDC Director Tom Frieden referred to the delay as the "most distressing" part of the whole incident and other incidents that involve contamination or mishandling of dangerous pathogens.

Many individuals could have been infected or fallen ill just because the staff didn't know how to handle the situation.

Last month, multiple vials of the smallpox virus were found in a building on the Bethesda campus of the National Institutes of Health. The vials seemed to have been long forgotten by lab workers who used to work in the building.

Frieden said incidents such as the avian flu virus shipment can really happen, especially with scientists who work with deadly organisms every day. Sometimes people can get careless, Frieden noted.