Over 300 deadly virus samples, including Hendra virus and lyssavirus, have gone missing from a Queensland, Australia lab due to a freezer malfunction, posing a potential public health risk.

Natural News

Investigating the Queensland Lab Breach: The Facts Behind the Missing Virus Samples

A recent report has surfaced claiming that over 300 deadly virus samples have gone missing from a government-operated laboratory in Queensland, Australia. This alarming news has sparked significant concern among the public and within the scientific community. Let's delve into the details to separate fact from fiction.
<h3>The Claim</h3>
The claim suggests that 323 virus samples, including nearly 100 samples of the deadly Hendra virus, 223 fragments of lyssavirus, and two full samples of hantavirus, have gone missing due to a freezer malfunction. The incident was reportedly discovered in 2021 but only made public in August 2023. Queensland Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls has launched an investigation into the matter.
<h3>The Facts</h3>
According to multiple sources, including the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-09/queensland-lab-breach-missing-vials-virus-health/104701198">Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)</a> and <a href="https://thenationalpulse.com/2024/12/10/biolab-loses-323-deadly-virus-samples/">The National Pulse</a>, the breach did occur, and the numbers cited are accurate. The samples were stored in a freezer that malfunctioned, leading to the loss of these dangerous pathogens.
The Hendra virus, known for its high fatality rate in horses and humans, is particularly concerning. Lyssavirus, similar to rabies, and hantavirus, which can cause severe illness in humans, are also among the missing samples.
<h3>Public Health Risk</h3>
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr. John Gerrard has stated that the virus samples would rapidly lose their infectiousness outside a low-temperature freezer, which is somewhat reassuring. However, the exact fate of these samples remains unknown, and the public has been assured that there is currently no evidence of any public health risk.
It is important to note that no cases of Hendra or lyssavirus have been detected among humans in Queensland over the past five years, and there has been no report of hantavirus infections in humans ever in Australia.
<h3>Systemic Failures</h3>
The incident highlights systemic failures in the lab's protocols. The samples were reportedly transferred to a functioning freezer without proper documentation, leading to the uncertainty about their whereabouts. This kind of oversight is inexcusable in a high-security facility and points to deeper issues within government-operated labs.
The investigation, led by former Supreme Court Justice Martin Daubney, will analyze internal policies and guidelines to determine if they were correctly followed and will make recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
<h3>Historical Context</h3>
This breach comes in the wake of historical flaws discovered in the state-run Forensic Science Queensland lab, where more than 40,000 criminal cases were affected due to insufficient DNA analysis methods. This has led to two commissions of inquiry, highlighting the larger issues with internal policies and guidelines within government-operated labs.
<h3>Expert Opinions</h3>
Infectious diseases expert Dr. Paul Griffin has pointed out that breaches in the storage of deadly viruses like these are supposed to be virtually impossible. The systems and procedures in place to handle such pathogens are typically robust, and this kind of slip-up just shouldn't happen in a well-regulated environment.
Dr. Griffin emphasized the need to restore public faith in laboratories that are doing such important work and ensure that they are doing what is needed to prevent such incidents in the future.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
While the claim that over 300 deadly virus samples have gone missing is largely accurate, the public health risk is likely minimal. The incident underscores the need for stringent protocols and better oversight in high-security labs to prevent such breaches in the future.
For further reading on the handling and risks associated with deadly viruses, refer to the following studies:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7144259/">Biosafety Considerations for Handling SARS-CoV-2</a> - A study on the biosafety measures required for handling deadly viruses like SARS-CoV-2.</li>
 <li><a href="https://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/biosafety/WHO_CDS_CSR_LYO_2004_11/en/">Laboratory Biosafety Manual</a> - A comprehensive manual by the World Health Organization on laboratory biosafety.</li>
</ul>
These resources provide a deeper understanding of the protocols and risks involved in handling deadly viruses.

The claim that hospitals willingly subjected patients to deadly protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic to generate financial incentives from the government has been circulating widely. This claim is based on testimonials from nurses and the analysis of author Ken McCarthy, who investigated the treatment protocols implemented during the height of the pandemic.McCarthy's book, 'What the Nurses Saw,' alleges that hospitals followed dangerous protocols from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which were financially incentivized. One of the key issues highlighted is the use of the drug remdesivir, which was halted in Africa due to organ failure. Other factors contributing to high mortality rates included the denial of anti-inflammatory medications, the use of BiPAP masks, and the excessive use of ventilators.However, the claim that hospitals were solely motivated by financial incentives is not supported by comprehensive evidence. A study analyzed more than 4,200 hospitals and found that over half did not experience financial distress due to COVID-19, even without government relief funds. Moreover, average operating margins increased from 2.8% before the pandemic to 6.5% from 2020 to 2021, indicating that many hospitals were financially stable or even profitable during this period.It is important to note that the complexity of treating a novel virus like COVID-19 led to varied and sometimes ineffective treatment protocols. The use of remdesivir, for example, was based on initial studies suggesting its potential efficacy, but subsequent research has shown mixed results. The denial of anti-inflammatory medications and the use of ventilators were also part of evolving treatment guidelines that were not universally effective.Furthermore, the claim that hospitals were financially incentivized to keep patients on ventilators for extended periods is not substantiated by reliable scientific sources. The use of ventilators was based on medical necessity and the severity of the patient's condition, rather than financial incentives.In conclusion, while there may have been instances of suboptimal treatment protocols and financial incentives, the claim that hospitals willingly subjected patients to deadly protocols for financial gain is largely unfounded. The treatment of COVID-19 patients was complex and evolved over time, reflecting the challenges of managing a novel virus.

Claim Review: Hospitals Subjected Patients to Deadly Protocols for Financial Gain

A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports examined global cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) between 1967 and 2023. The study found that out of 19 vaccines examined, 17 were potentially associated with GBS, including COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. The findings also showed that reports of vaccine-related GBS surged following the introduction of the swine flu vaccine in 2009 and the COVID-19 vaccine in 2020.
GBS is a rare condition that attacks the peripheral nervous system, causing sudden numbness and muscle weakness. The study reported 117 deaths among the 15,377 cases of vaccine-associated GBS, with most deaths occurring in people aged 65 and over.
The researchers noted that studies have consistently shown a higher risk of GBS from COVID-19 and flu infections compared to vaccination. They cited a four- to seven-times increase in GBS following influenza infection.
Karl Jablonowski, Ph.D., senior research scientist at <a href="https://remedia.social/claim-author/childrens-health-defense-org-b3c2e48c34df">Children’s Health Defense (CHD)</a> , praised the study’s scope but questioned its methodology. Brian Hooker, Ph.D., chief scientific officer for CHD, also questioned the study’s conclusion that infection poses a greater risk of GBS compared to vaccination.
The study used data from VigiBase, the WHO’s global database of adverse event reports. The researchers concluded that Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccines are associated with a higher incidence of GBS, especially when compared to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
The study’s findings did not indicate sex-specific risks of GBS but found an increased association with advancing age. The average time of GBS onset was 5.5 days, with a high standard deviation, suggesting variability in onset times.
The study’s authors acknowledged the scarcity of data connecting GBS to vaccination and the need for more research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms linking vaccines and GBS.
In conclusion, while the study found associations between several vaccines and GBS, it also noted that the risk of GBS from infections like COVID-19 and influenza is higher than from vaccinations. The claim that most vaccines are associated with GBS and that reports of vaccine-associated GBS have been increasing steadily over time is partially true.&nbsp;
References:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-74729-2">Global burden of vaccine-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome over 170 countries from 1967 to 202</a>3 - Scientific Reports&nbsp;</li>
 <li><a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(21)00211-X/fulltext">Mortality rate for GBS in countries with limited resources</a> &nbsp;- The Lancet</li>
 <li><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15838-guillain-barre-syndrome">Guillain-Barré syndrome</a> &nbsp;- Cleveland Clinic</li>
</ul>

Claim Review: Guillain-Barré Syndrome Associated with 17 Vaccines, Including Covid and Flu Shots

The claim that deaths in Western Australia increased sevenfold after the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been circulating, particularly in the context of a Port Hedland Town Council meeting. According to Councilor Adrian McRae, the town has gone from one funeral a week to more than one funeral a day since the COVID-19 injections were rolled out. This claim is based on anecdotal evidence and lacks robust scientific data to support it.
McRae also mentioned the construction of a new cold body storage facility in Port Hedland, attributing the need for this facility to the increase in deaths. However, the correlation between the vaccine rollout and the increase in deaths is not established through any peer-reviewed studies or official health data.
The claim further suggests that the COVID-19 injections are contaminated with synthetic DNA, specifically the cancer-causing simian virus 40 (SV40). This assertion is based on a report by Canadian molecular virologist and epidemiologist Dr. David Speicher, who allegedly identified SV40 DNA sequences in the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 injections. While SV40 contamination in vaccines has been a historical concern, particularly with polio vaccines in the 1950s and 1960s, there is no current evidence to support the presence of SV40 in COVID-19 vaccines.
The Port Hedland Council passed a motion to suspend the use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, citing the findings of Dr. Speicher. However, the scientific community has not widely accepted these findings, and they have not been corroborated by other independent studies.
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook responded to the council's motion by stating that it was based on an unverified claim. This response underscores the lack of credible evidence supporting the claim of increased deaths due to the vaccine rollout.
In conclusion, the claim that deaths in Western Australia increased sevenfold after the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is not supported by reliable scientific evidence. The assertion of SV40 contamination in COVID-19 vaccines also lacks credible backing. It is crucial to rely on peer-reviewed studies and official health data when evaluating such claims.

Claim Review: Deaths in Western Australia Increased Sevenfold After COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

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Claim: "Over 300 deadly virus samples, including Hendra virus and lyssavirus, have gone missing from a Queensland, Australia lab due to a freezer malfunction, posing a potential public health risk." is Mostly True

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