Australian laboratory loses 300+ vials of some deadly viruses

It has been reported that hundreds of vials containing deadly viruses have disappeared from an Australian laboratory. This information was disclosed by Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls, as reported by Newsweek. The total number of vials that are believed to have been misappropriated is 323, and an investigation has been initiated to ascertain the circumstances surrounding this incident. The disappearance is believed to have occurred in 2021 as a result of a significant breach of biosecurity protocols. However, this was only identified in August 2023. The samples at stake were those that contained potentially dangerous viruses for humans and animals, including Hendravirus, Lyssavirus and Hantavirus. The prevailing theory posits that the samples were misplaced during the transfer of materials from a malfunctioning refrigerator to another storage facility. The samples were relocated without the requisite documentation being completed. The materials were removed from a long-term safe and were subsequently misplaced or mishandled, according to a report from Minister Nicholls at a press conference.