The Queensland gove ment has launched an investigation after hundreds of vials containing deadly virus samples were reported missing from the Public Health Virology Laboratory.
According to a statement released on Monday (Dec 9), 323 vials of infectious viruses, including Hendra virus, Lyssavirus, and Hantavirus, went missing in August 2023, marking what officials called a ‘major historical breach of biosecurity protocols.’
Despite the breach, authorities assured the public there is ‘no evidence of risk to the community.’ Chief Health Officer Dr. John Gerrard stated that the samples would degrade quickly outside low-temperature storage, making it highly unlikely for them to remain infectious if improperly discarded.
