Hundreds of deadly virus samples are missing from a laboratory in Australia, the Queensland government announced on Monday.

The government has instructed Queensland Health — Australia’s public health department — to launch an investigation into what’s being described as a “major historical breach of biosecurity protocols,” according to the online media statement.

It was reported that 323 vials of multiple infectious viruses — including Hendra virus, Lyssavirus and Hantavirus — went missing from Queensland’s Public Health Virology Laboratory in August 2023.

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Hendra is a zoonotic (animal-to-human) virus that has only been found in Australia. 

Hantavirus is a family of viruses that can lead to serious illness and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while Lyssavirus is a group of viruses that can cause rabies.

The lab where the samples went missing provides “diagnostic services, surveillance and research for viruses and mosquito and tick-borne pathogens of medical importance,” the release stated.  

It is not known whether the infectious samples were stolen or destroyed, the statement said, and there is “no evidence of risk to the community.”

The government has launched a “Part 9 investigation.”

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“With such a serious breach of biosecurity protocols and infectious virus samples potentially missing, Queensland Health must investigate what occurred and how to prevent it from happening again,” Minister Timothy Nicholls said in the release.

“The Part 9 investigation will ensure nothing has been overlooked in responding to this incident and examine the current policies and procedures in operation today at the laboratory.”

“This investigation will also consider regulatory compliance and staff conduct.”

The Lyssavirus family contains the rabies virus, which is almost universally fatal in humans if they do not receive treatment in time. (iStock)

Nicholls added that Queensland Health has taken “proactive measures,” including retraining staff on required regulations and conducting audits to ensure correct storage of materials.

Sam Scarpino, PhD, director of AI and life sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, confirmed that the situation in Australia amounts to a “critical biosecurity lapse.” 

“Given the limited ability for any of these pathogens to transmit from person to person, the risk of an epidemic is very low.”

“The pathogens reported missing are all high-consequence and could pose a threat to the public,” he told Fox News Digital. 

The three pathogens can have very high fatality rates in humans, Scarpino said, but they do not transmit readily from person to person. 

Hendra is a zoonotic (animal-to-human) virus that has only been found in Australia.  (iStock)

“Some hantaviruses have case fatality rates of up to 15%, or over 100 times more lethal than COVID-19, while others are more similar to COVID-19 in terms of severity,” he said. 

There is also a high risk to animals and livestock from all three pathogens, he added. 

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The Lyssavirus family contains the rabies virus, which is almost universally fatal in humans if they do not receive treatment in time, the expert noted. 

“Given the limited ability for any of these pathogens to transmit from person to person, the risk of an epidemic is very low,” Scarpino said. 

“It’s clear that we need quite a bit more investment and transparency related to pathogen biosecurity,” one expert said. (iStock)

“However, Hendra virus — along with certain members of the Hantavirus and Lyssavirus family — can be very severe in humans and animals.”

Chief Health Officer Dr. John Gerrard reiterated in the media statement that there is no evidence of public risk.

“It’s important to note that virus samples would degrade very rapidly outside a low temperature freezer and become non-infectious,” he said.

“It’s very unlikely that samples were discarded in general waste, as this would be completely outside routine laboratory practice.”

Hantavirus is a family of viruses that can lead to serious illness and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (iStock)

There have been no human cases of Hendra or Lyssavirus in Queensland over the past five years, Gerrard noted, and no confirmed Hantavirus infections “ever in Australia.” 

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Despite the low risk, Scarpino said, “It’s important to understand where these samples ended up, to confirm that there is no longer a risk of exposure.”

“While I applaud the Australian government for taking this seriously, it’s unacceptable that it took over a year for news of the breach to be made public.”

“The pathogens reported missing are all high-consequence.”

There have been similarly high-profile biosecurity lapses in the U.S., Scarpino noted.

“It’s clear that we need quite a bit more investment and transparency related to pathogen biosecurity,” he added.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Queensland government requesting further comment.

Fentanyl has made headlines for driving overdose deaths, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning of the rise of an even deadlier drug.

Last year, nearly 70% of all U.S. overdose deaths were attributed to illegally manufactured fentanyls (IMFs). One of those was carfentanil, an altered version of fentanyl that is said to be 100 times more potent, the CDC warned in a Dec. 5 alert.

Deaths from carfentanil rose by more than 700% in the past year, according to the same source — there were 29 deadly overdoses between January and June 2023, and 238 in that same time frame in 2024.

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This data came from the CDC’s State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS).

The numbers could actually be higher, as the 2024 data is preliminary and not all overdose deaths have been reported, the agency noted.

Since an outbreak of carfentanil-linked deaths in 2016 and 2016, the drug had “largely disappeared” until this recent reemergence, the CDC noted.

Based on the increase in fatal overdoses, the CDC is calling for “rigorous monitoring” of carfentanil and other opioids more potent than fentanyl.

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As with other illicit drugs, its “high profitability” likely drives its prevalence, according to Dr. Chris Tuell, clinical director of addiction services at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

“Very small amounts can produce thousands of doses,” he told Fox News Digital.  

“Synthetic opioids like carfentanil are relatively easy to manufacture in illicit labs,” Tuell went on. “Since the drug is a synthetic, it is easier to produce — unlike heroin, which is dependent on a plant like opium.”

Why is carfentanil so dangerous?

Carfentanil is 10,000 more times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, Tuell confirmed.

“Even a small amount can be fatal, as it can cause respiratory failure,” he said.

Carfentanil can sometimes be in the form of “pressed pills” that resemble prescription medications, the expert said. (iStock)

One of the major concerns with carfentanil and fentanyl is that they are frequently mixed with other drugs, such as benzodiazepines, cocaine and opioids, which can lead to accidental overdoses, according to Tuell.

“Carfentanil can also resemble cocaine and heroin, so it blends right in with the other drugs,” he warned.  

“Even a small amount can be fatal, as it can cause respiratory failure.”

“Even a tiny amount can increase the potency of a drug mixture, leading to a stronger and longer-lasting high.”

Carfentanil often appeals to drug users who have a high tolerance to opioids because they seek a stronger substance, “making the drug attractive despite the risk,” Tuell noted.

How is the drug administered?

Carfentanil can be injected and is frequently mixed with other opioids or heroin, Tuell said. In a powder form, it can be inhaled.  

“Inhaling the drug can be quickly risky because it can enter the bloodstream, resulting in an overdose,” Tuell warned. “This can happen intentionally or accidentally, as the drug can become easily airborne.”

Carfentanil can be injected and is frequently mixed with other opioids or heroin, an addiction specialist warned. (iStock)

Carfentanil can sometimes be in the form of “pressed pills” that resemble prescription medications, the expert said.

“Carfentanil can be lethal at the 2-milligram range depending on the route of administration,” he cautioned.

What parents should know

“Children are now the generation of artificial intelligence and deepfakes, as illicit drugs are posing like regular prescription medications,” Tuell cautioned.

To help protect kids from the dangers of illicit drugs, the expert emphasized the importance of open communication and education.  

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“Educate your child about the dangers and risks of drug use, including synthetic opioids like carfentanil,” he advised.

Parents should provide monitoring and supervision of their children, be aware of their social circles and limit unsupervised online activities, Tuell recommended. 

Based on the increase in fatal overdoses, the CDC is calling for “rigorous monitoring” of carfentanil and other opioids more potent than fentanyl. (iStock)

“I also believe it is important that parents realize that 84% of individuals with a substance use disorder also have a co-occurring mental health issue,” he added. 

“Seeking out mental health services for your child could help address the underlying issues that may have led to a substance use disorder.”

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The CDC called for specific efforts in preventing deaths from illegally manufactured fentanyls, “such as maintaining and improving distribution of risk reduction tools, increasing access to and retention of treatment for substance use disorders, and preventing drug use initiation.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for comment.

December 9th, 2024
To Members of the United States Senate:
We, the undersigned Nobel Laureates, are writing to ask you to
oppose the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
The proposal to place Mr. Kennedy in charge of the federal agencies
responsible for protecting the health of American citizens and for
conducting the medical research that benefits our country and the
rest of humanity has been widely criticized on multiple grounds. In
addition to his lack of credentials or relevant experience in
medicine, science, public health, or administration, Mr. Kennedy has
been an opponent of many health-protecting and life-saving
vaccines, such as those that prevent measles and polio; a critic of
the well-established positive effects of fluoridation of drinking
water; a promoter of conspiracy theories about remarkably
successful treatments for AIDS and other diseases; and a belligerent
critic of respected agencies (especially the Food and Drug
Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, and the National
Institutes of Health). The leader of DHHS should continue to nurture
and improve— not threaten—these important and highly respected
institutions and their employees.
In view of his record, placing Mr. Kennedy in charge of DHHS would
put the public’s health in jeopardy and undermine America’s global
leadership in the health sciences, in both the public and commercial
sectors.