A state-run Australian laboratory had a “serious” biosecurity breach that resulted in the disappearance of over 100 live samples of a dangerous virus. A total of 323 viral samples—including two vials carrying hantavirus, 223 containing lyssavirus,
And 98 vials with the lethal Hendra virus—have been reported missing. In what he described as a “major breach” of biosecurity procedure,
Health Minister Tim Nicholls said on Monday that the virus samples that had been taken from the Virology Laboratory in 2021 had vanished, according to ABC News in Australia.
According to Nicholls, the lab has not been able to verify if the items in the vials were taken out or destroyed,
And the biosecurity violation was not found until August 2023. After a freezer at the lab where they were being kept malfunctioned, they vanished.
According to Nicholls, “this aspect of the transfer of those materials is causing concern.” “The materials might have been lost or otherwise unaccounted for after being taken out of that secure storage.”
