Nearly 100 samples of the deadly Hendra virus have been lost at a government-run laboratory in Queensland, Australia. A total of 323 samples, including Hendra, Lyssa and Hantavirus, are untraceable following a freezer failure in 2021, according to Health Minister Tim Nicholls.
The Queensland virology laboratory where the samples disappeared provides “diagnostic services, surveillance and research for viruses and tick-borne pathogens of medical importance”, the statement said.
The most likely cause of the “disappearance” is the loss of containers when transferring to a new freezer – but the necessary paperwork was not completed. The Ministry of Health is currently investigating the incident.
It is unclear whether the samples were removed or destroyed. “That part of the transfer concerns us,” Nicholls said. However, there are no indications of theft.
Low risk to the public
Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard stressed that the missing virus samples outside a freezer decayed quickly and were therefore not infectious. No human cases of Hendra or Lyssavirus have been reported in Queensland for five years, and hantavirus infections have never been documented in Australia.
The Hendra virus, a disease that can be passed from animals to humans, first made headlines in 1994 when it killed several horses and a trainer in Brisbane. Since then there have been 66 outbreaks in Australia, killing four people.
Criticism of security gaps
Experts such as infection specialist Dr. Paul Griffin sharply criticized the safety shortcomings: “Such violations should not occur in laboratories with strict safety measures.” Griffin called for more transparency and clear information about the circumstances of the incident to restore trust in such facilities.
Investigation committee appointed
An independent investigation will now review the laboratory’s internal policies and security practices. An accompanying report with recommendations is expected in June. The incident comes at an inopportune time for the local health department.
Only recently were errors discovered at another state laboratory in Queensland, leading to the testing of thousands of DNA samples. According to ABC News Australia, more than 40,000 criminal cases have been affected by such system errors.
Source: Krone
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