Hundreds of Vials Containing Deadly Viruses Go Missing in Australia

Hundreds of vials containing live viruses have gone missing from a laboratory in Australia. This was reported by Newsweek. According to Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls, 323 samples of live viruses disappeared due to a "serious breach of biological safety protocols" in 2021. The leak was identified in August 2023.

Among the missing vials, nearly 100 contained the deadly Hendra virus. Two vials contained hantavirus, and another 223 contained the lisavirus. The Hendra virus was first identified in Australia in the mid-1990s after several horses became infected and died. Only a few people have contracted this illness, with the majority succumbing to it.

"The Hendra virus has a 57 percent mortality rate among humans and devastating effects on infected individuals, their families, and the animal husbandry and equestrian sectors in the virus's transmission areas," noted Professor Raina Plowright from Cornell University.

The hantavirus is carried by rodents and can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which has an approximate mortality rate of 38%. The lisavirus has a very high mortality rate.

It is currently unknown whether the viruses were destroyed or removed from the laboratory. "There is no basis to suggest that they were taken from the laboratory. Secondly, we have no evidence that the Hendra virus has been used in any way as a weapon in any research laboratory," said Tim Nicholls.