Samples of a deadly virus have gone missing from an Australian lab, resulting in a major biosecurity breach.

Queensland Health has been instructed to investigate a significant biosecurity breach after hundreds of virus samples went missing from a public health laboratory. Authorities in Queensland, Australia, have confirmed the incident as a “major historical breach” of biosecurity protocols.

According to an official statement from the Queensland government on Monday, 323 vials containing dangerous viruses, including the Hendra virus, Lyssavirus, and Hantavirus, were reported missing from the Queensland Public Health Virology Laboratory in August 2023.

The Hendra virus, found only in Australia, is a zoonotic virus that can spread from animals to humans. Lyssavirus includes rabies, which can be fatal without proper medical treatment, and Hantavirus can lead to severe illness and even death, as noted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The lab involved in the breach is responsible for providing diagnostic services, research, and surveillance for various pathogens, including those spread by mosquitoes and ticks. However, it remains unclear whether the missing samples were stolen, destroyed, or simply misplaced. The government has assured the public that there is “no evidence of risk to the community” at this time.

In response to the breach, Queensland Health has initiated an investigation to understand the circumstances and prevent future incidents. Queensland Health Minister Timothy Nicholls stated, “Given the serious nature of this breach and the potential loss of infectious virus samples, an investigation must determine what happened and how to prevent a recurrence.” He added that the inquiry would also review the laboratory’s current policies, procedures, and staff conduct.

Experts have raised concerns about the gravity of the situation. Sam Scarpino, director of AI and life sciences at Northeastern University in the US, described the breach as a “critical biosecurity lapse,” warning that the missing pathogens could pose a public threat. He noted that some strains of Hantavirus have fatality rates up to 15%, much higher than COVID-19.

Despite the severity of these pathogens, Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, Dr. John Gerrard, reassured the public, stating that there is no evidence of a health risk. He explained that the virus samples would “degrade very rapidly outside a low-temperature freezer and become non-infectious.” Dr. Gerrard also noted that Queensland has not had any reported human cases of Hendra or Lyssavirus in the past five years, and no confirmed cases of Hantavirus have ever been recorded in Australia.