On December 9th, the Queensland government revealed that dangerous virus samples had disappeared from a local lab, leading Queensland Health to start an investigation.
Around 323 vials, containing viruses like Hendra, Lyssavirus, and Hantavirus, have been missing since August 2023 from the Public Health Virology Laboratory.
A statement confirmed that a Part 9 investigation will look into whether the samples were stolen or destroyed, and assured people that there is no immediate danger.
Minister Timothy Nicholls emphasized the importance of a complete investigation to avoid similar incidents in the future, with a focus on the lab’s rules and how well they follow regulations.
