Missing virus vial raises concerns at UTMB facility

Where we read that a vial of “Guanarito” virus has gone missing from a laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

“Guanarito” is also known by the name “Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever” and has a fatality rate of 23%. What’s extra-special is that Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever is spread through “aerosolized dissemination,” which typically means “sneezing.” A secondary meaning of the term is “hey, this stuff would make a great bio-weapon, sprayed out of a can on a train, bus or plane.”