A research facility in Australia is in hot water over losing track of its viruses.
Queensland officials reported the incident Monday.
According to Health Minister Tim Nicholls, over 300 virus samples have gone missing.
A transmission electron micrograph of the Sin Nombre hantavirus.© BSIP/UIG Via Getty
Officials didnt notice the missing viruses until August 2023.
The misplaced samples contained Hendra virus, lyssavirus, and hantavirus.
All three viruses are predominantly caught through contact with animals and can cause life-threatening infections.
Officials say the samples appeared to go missing sometime after a freezer used to store them broke down.
Its this part of the transfer of those materials that is causing concern, Nicholls said.
As it stands, there doesnt seem to be a reason for major concern.
Still, the misplacement of the samples is worrying enough, given the potential fallout of such incidents.
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