S.Africa seized samples of viruses which spur biohazard warning

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 02:38 pm

A biohazard alert in South Africa’s Eastern Cape used to be sparked Tuesday after large samples believed to be COVID-19 trying out went lacking when a truck was hijacked, in accordance to media reviews Tuesday.

The incident took place Monday in Port Elizabeth, The Southern African website reported.

“Yesterday we obtained reports that a courier vehicle transporting COVID-19 specimens for the NHLS [National Health Laboratory Service] was once hijacked in Port Elizabeth and criminals who did this took a white container with the specimens,” the website quoted Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane.

“We condemn this act of criminality, which puts the lives of people at risk,” he said.

The incident left authorities concerned about the biohazard danger to the Eastern Cape.

A backlog of checks will be carried out in the area, as the crime avoided workable coronavirus samples from being processed.

Police are looking for the suspects, according to the website.

The truck carrying two boxes of specimens used to be hijacked at gunpoint, the unknown missing variety of COVID-19 samples have been in 40-liter (11-gallon) cooler boxes.

The suspects stole the truck’s battery and spare tire and the car was once dumped 500 meters (1,600 feet) from the crime scene, except the samples.

At least 15,418 humans have died from the virus in Africa, while 391,898 patients have recovered, according to the cutting-edge figures. Southern Africa is the hardest hit with 388,000 cases, of which 373,600 are in South Africa.

The world pandemic has claimed nearly 614,000 lives in 188 countries and areas because it has originated in Wuhan, China closing December.

The US, Brazil, Russia and India are presently the worst-hit nations in the world. Nearly 15 million COVID-19 cases have been said worldwide, with recoveries exceeding 8.4 million, in accordance to US-based Johns Hopkins University.

(AnadoluAgency)