H5N1 VIRUS, which is behind a number of bird flu pandemics across the world, was sent by an Australian lab to Czech Republic, where it was given to ferrets by accident. This incident posed the risk of this virus escaping into the wild and also mixing up with a human strain, which could spawn a dangerous hybrid.

As per reports, vaccine major Baxter’s Austrian branch had sent in December, a batch of human H3N2 to Avir Biotech in Austria. However, in February, a Czech company working with Avir reported the death of ferrets inoculated with samples of H3N2.

However, scientists later found that the particular sample contained live H5N1, which is used by Baxter to make vaccines. It was found that the two samples were mixed in error and could have posed a major hazard.

A Baxter official said that no one was infected due to the mix up as the situation was handled at the highest level of containment. The incident, however, has not gone well with the medical community as it warned of a disaster if such a virulent strain spreads.