Brisbane (Agencies): In a startling revelation, Australian authorities have confirmed a major biosecurity breach at Queensland’s Public Health Virology Laboratory. Over 300 vials containing live samples of three deadly viruses—Hantavirus, Hendra virus, and Lyssavirus—went missing in 2021, but the breach only came to light in August 2023.
The vials disappeared after a freezer malfunctioned, and it took nearly two years for the discrepancy to be officially acknowledged. Queensland Chief Health Officer John Gerrard reassured the public that the risk of infection is minimal, as the virus samples would degrade rapidly outside a low-temperature freezer and become non-infectious. Gerrard speculated that the samples might have been destroyed in an autoclave, following safety protocols.
Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest the samples were stolen deliberately or for nefarious purposes. He also noted that there is no indication that Hendra virus has ever been weaponized. The authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, led by retired Australian Supreme Court Judge Martin Daubney and biosecurity expert Dr. Julian Druce.
The inquiry aims to determine how the breach occurred and how it went unnoticed for nearly two years. Queensland Health has implemented measures, including retraining staff and auditing storage permits, to prevent such incidents in the future.