Over 300 deadly virus samples have gone missing from a government-operated laboratory in Queensland, Australia. The missing virus samples include approximately 100 Hendra virus samples, 223 lyssavirus fragments, and two full hantavirus samples.

These virus samples went missing In what is described as a “jaw-dropping and alarming breach of biosecurity”, according to the National Pulse. This news, which first emerged in August 2023,  but didn’t get much attention, has sent shockwaves through the medical and scientific communities.

This news is emerging now as bird flu threatens to mutate to readily infect humans, mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) continues to spread in Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo faces an unknown and mysterious virus, and Rwanda grapples with an “eye bleed” disease known as Marburg virus. 

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Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls announced Monday that his department is investigating the disappearance of 323 samples from the state virology laboratory. Queensland Chief Health Officer John Gerrard informed reporters that the missing virus samples would rapidly lose their infectiousness without proper freezer storage. He further stated that there is no indication that the missing samples, especially the Hendra virus, have been used for biological warfare purposes, according to the report by The National Pulse. 

Some evidence has surfaced that the monkeypox outbreak was the result of a biolab-manipulated virus that could have been released on purpose to cause infections.

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We can be “rest assured” that this leak did not have an impact on public health, the authorities in Australia have said.  Nicholls said that there is “no evidence so far” of any public health risk due to the missing vials. The health department is also coordinating with federal and agricultural bodies to ensure comprehensive regulatory measures are in place.

The biolab has also stated that it needs to evaluate its procedures to ensure that leaks like this don’t happen again in the future.