A scandal is brewing in Australia over the disappearance of hundreds of vials containing highly pathogenic viruses. The Queensland Health Minister said 2021 samples, including Hendra, lyssavirus and hantavirus, went missing from a lab in 323. However, the loss was only discovered in August 2023, raising serious concerns about the implications of the leak.

Of the missing vials, nearly 100 contained the Hendra virus, which has a fatality rate of 57%. First discovered in the mid-1990s, the virus is transmitted by bats and causes severe infection in horses and humans. Two vials also contained hantavirus, which has a fatality rate of 38% when it develops into a lung syndrome. Lyssavirus, which made up 223 vials, is an analogue of the rabies virus and has an extremely high fatality rate.

Queensland's Health Minister described the incident as a "serious breach of biosecurity protocols." He said an investigation was underway to determine the circumstances of the loss and the possible consequences of the leak. Experts stressed that the loss of such a large number of highly dangerous pathogens poses a risk to public health, especially if they were released into the environment or into the hands of criminals.

Hendra virus is considered one of the most dangerous pathogens that scientists are actively working with. In 2021, cases of infection with the virus were registered in Australia in people who had contact with infected horses. Scientists are working on creating a vaccine against this virus, but its effectiveness is still limited.

Hantaviruses pose another serious threat. They are transmitted through rodent excrement and can cause fatal diseases such as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Outbreaks of hantavirus diseases have previously been reported in the United States, Asia, and South America, and mortality rates remain consistently high.

Lyssaviruses are less well known, but their similarity to the rabies virus makes them extremely dangerous. Transmission can occur through bites from infected animals, and without timely treatment, they are almost 100% fatal.