What happened

Australian government officials recently confirmed a “serious breach” at a state public health virology laboratory in Queensland that occurred in 2021 but was only now discovered. The research facility did not find numerous samples that included hantavirus (mostly causes fever and kidney syndrome, but some strains can be fatal), Hendra virus (causes fatal infection in horses and humans) and lyssavirus (rabies). The incident was reported on Monday, citing 24 Channel’s local Australian publication 9news.

Generally reported on Disappearance of more than 300 samples of various viruses and bacteria. The government is immediately launching an investigation into the missing specimens, but they are not believed to pose any danger to the public.

Authorities said that the samples disappeared some time after the freezer in which they were stored broke. It is unknown whether the samples were lost by being transported to another location or destroyed without being properly recorded. “The transmission part of these materials is troubling,” said Nichols.

Authorities say so Not a single case of the disease has been recorded in this region in the last five years Hendra virus or lyssavirus, but never hantavirus. Even if specimens are left outdoors, they very quickly cease to be dangerous because they require a host for transmission and reproduction.

All three viruses mentioned are transmitted mainly through contact with animals. The natural hosts of Hendra virus are bats called “flying foxes”. Hantaviruses are found mostly in rodents. Lyssaviruses can infect many mammals but are also commonly found in bats. Rabies virus is only one type of lyssavirus.

It is difficult to imagine a scenario where the public could be at risk. It is important to note that virus samples degrade very quickly outside the low-temperature freezer and become non-infectious.
– said chief medical doctor John Gerrard.

But the fact of sample loss is alarming, considering the possible consequences of similar events in the future. After the world has experienced a long coronavirus epidemic, people are paying particular attention to such issues. Authorities said they have launched an investigation into the breach, which will include figuring out why the lab went unnoticed for so long when the samples went missing.