Feds Ask Dutch to Limit Published Info About Potentially-Pandemic Bird Flu Virus
- Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:11pm by
Liz Klimas
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WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — The U.S. government asked scientists Tuesday not to reveal all the details of how to make a version of the deadly bird flu that they created in labs in the U.S. and Europe. Editors of prominent scientific journals disagree with the recommendation.
The lab-bred virus that The Blaze reported on late last month, being kept under high security, appears to spread more easily among mammals. That’s fueled worry that publishing a blueprint could aid terrorists in creating a biological weapon, the National Institutes of Health said.
Last month, some critics were saying that the virus should have never been created. Paul Keim, chairman of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, said he couldn’t think of ”another pathogenic organism that is as scary as this one.” Others expressed reservations about publishing research that could serve dual purposes to both help or harm humanity.
But the NIH said it was important for the overall findings to be published in scientific journals, because they suggest it may be easier than previously thought for bird flu to mutate on its own and become a greater threat.
“It’s very important research,” NIH science policy director Dr. Amy Patterson told The Associated Press. “As this virus evolves in nature, we want to be able to rapidly detect . . . mutations that may indicate that the virus is getting closer to a form that could cross species lines more readily.”
Bird flu, known formally as H5N1 avian influenza, occasionally infects people who have close contact with infected poultry, particularly in parts of Asia. It is highly deadly when it does infect people because it’s different from typical human flu bugs. The concern is that one day it may begin spreading easily between people.
The NIH paid for two research projects, at the Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands and at the University of Wisconsin, to better understand what might fuel the virus’ ability to spread. The NIH said researchers genetically engineered bird flu that could spread easily among ferrets — animals whose response to influenza is similar to humans.
So the government’s biosecurity advisers — the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity — reviewed the research as it was submitted to two scientific journals, Science and Nature. Following the board’s recommendation, the Department of Health and Human Services asked the researchers and journal editors not publish the full genetic information that could enable someone to copy the work.
Patterson said publishing the general findings, however, could help scientists better monitor bird flu’s natural evolution and spur further research into new treatments. The government will set up a way for scientists who are pursuing such work to be given the unpublished genetic details, she said.
Patterson said researchers were making changes in their scientific reports.
But in a statement, Science editor-in-chief Dr. Bruce Alberts said his journal “has concerns about withholding potentially important public health information from responsible influenza researchers” and was evaluating how best to proceed.
Nature’s editor-in-chief, Dr. Philip Campbell, called the recommendations unprecedented.
“It is essential for public health that the full details of any scientific analysis of flu viruses be available to researchers,” he said in a statement. The journal is discussing how “appropriate access to the scientific methods and data could be enabled.”
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Comments (58)
layosh
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 11:37pmIt is inevitablethat these more deadly forms of the virus will appear naturally sooner or later. Do not forget, 7 billion people means good feeding adn breeding ground for a virus, add the pigs and poultry we breed to this number and you will understand: Mother Nature will not let it go to waste! Keeping it secret will not do much help, just postpones the inevitable. On the other hand, making it public helps the vaccine developers to look into the issues and prepare reagents, reference material etc. for rapid vaccine development in the future.
Report Post »Roros
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 11:21pmNow we dont want to share, really. Why is it that Man is desten to Kill our selfs?.
Report Post »mauijonny
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 10:16pmViruses are personally bad because they can (and do) mess with your DNA and RNA. But viruses are good in that they mess with your DNA and RNA and, if you survive it, you now have valuable genes to pass on. Several cancers are virus-based (making your cells replicate quickly by taking over your genes). BTW, antibiotics don’t help colds because antibiotics are anti-bacterials, not anti-virals. OK. Geek moment over.
Report Post »solomon
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 8:25pmSpeechless.
Report Post »Sicialian Eyeball
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 6:37pmHey! My buddie grew feathers and died! Shhhhh…………… Go back to sleep and trust the Govt.
Report Post »boundforglory
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:20pmThe bible does say that in the last days there will be pestilences. I guess we know where at least one of them will be coming from. I wonder how fast this one will work, some to kill you fast with no pain, some to kill you slow with lots of pain. They have invented more ways to kill mankind than ways to save mankind! Makes you wonder about how many of these “pestilences” they have that they dont talk about?
Report Post »pmjr-jones
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:14pmi mean exp. rejected gravity molicule?
Report Post »pmjr-jones
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:08pmrejected gravity molicule(spelling)?
Report Post »mbean
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:47pmWhere are the 12 monkeys.?
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 10:50amBeats me Old Bob.
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:34pmKeep your spam off this site! Lowlife!
Report Post »wisehiney
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:31pmQ. What is the difference between swine flu and bird flu?
A. For one you get oinkment and the other you get tweetment.
Report Post »Anamah
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:50pmReading this kind of thing make ask what in the hell is Andy Stern doing in Siga board. A commie gangster from the SEIU – Union / W.H. most assiduous guest to became a board member of a pharmaceutical laboratory working in national defense, biosecurity, vaccines searching on lethal virus like Anthrax, Ebola, and many other threats.
Report Post »ginger100
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 5:55pmOh come on ANAMAH, you know what he is doing there. Thats why union members and rich people like Tom Cruise (actors guild) are building bomb shelters for themselves. They are the builders according to their union cards, the “Chosen Ones” what ever they want to call themselves. They have a life boat and you don’t. All they have to do is clean up the mess afterwards with the FEMA furnaces (rowan technologies inc).
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x24Zgb-fvjI&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLF158713ABC42D76C
Walkabout
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 6:16pmThe powerful always get hooked up right or left.
The UNION boss got hooked up to the gravy train.
http://www.redstate.com/laborunionreport/2011/01/01/with-seius-andy-stern-on-board-siga-may-finally-get-its-28-billion-smallpox-contract/
Report Post »audiemurphy
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:21pmwhy did the republican cross the floor to the otherside?
Report Post »To get the free bird flu vaccine !
Can we vaccinate against progressivism ?
Walkabout
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:21pmGo ahead publish it.
Bird flu is easy to defeat.
Report Post »PossumRoadkill
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:29pmJust keep telling yourself that.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:53pmPossumRoadkill
Read up on rabies, bird flu & leprosy. What kills you, the virus or the immune response?
Read up on the girl you survived full blown rabies in Wisconsin.
Who was mostly at risk to die from bird flue a 30-ish or 40-ish person or a 20 year old with a a healthy immune system?
There are a few ways to go. Vaccine, immune suppression, being super healthy & avoidance.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:15pmThe peasants don’t need to hear all this, it might panic them.
Report Post »iblvingd
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:14pmMoney mongers and mad scientists………….the evil that lurks in this world!
Report Post »CONNIPTION FITZ
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:09pmSo, will WWIII be between the Vaccinated and the Unvaccinated?
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:24pmDo don’t need a vaccine to survive bird flu.
Report Post »Lamarr01
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 10:38amHuman monsters are always thinking of more effective means of killing their fellow man. The following quote is from a NEOCON think tank that envisioned a New Pearl Harbor:
“And advanced forms of biological warfare that can trigger specific ‘genotypes’ can transform biological warfare from the realm of terror into a politically useful tool.” Project for a New American Century, (PNAC) ‘Rebuilding America’s Defenses’, (Rumsfeld, Cheney, etc. 9/2000)
This would make genocide possible targeting one ethic group and giving them a fatal or debilitating disease.
Our own beloved President has requested a $433 million contract to make an experimental drug to treat a potential small pox outbreak. The scourge of small pox was eliminated in the wild in the 1970s. The virus only exists in labs for the CDC in Atlanta and possibly Russian. No known terrorist group has access to the virus. The company that makes the drug is owned by Ron Perelman who is a major donor to the democrats.
Report Post »ronin_6
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:03pmIsn‘t this how the book ’The Stand’ started? Super flu, Capt Trips? M-o-o-n. That spells oops!
Report Post »ginger100
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:44pm“Come to me, your god er a I mean govt. Me, your President, Nancy and Harry just ask you to drop off your weapons, drink this cool aid and be saved”
Report Post »Firebrand
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:37pmIn reality, it’s probably just scientists being scientists. They got funding to work on bird flu, and they did. The fact that they work on bird flu is probably why they got their funding in the first place. Anyway, the chance that there is a bird flu conspiracy is minuscule at best.
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:36pmWell now that you made a version of the bird flu that CAN infect mammals, there WILL be a breakout!!! IDIOTS!!!
Report Post »Countrygirl1362
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:27pmWonder how long before some drug company comes up with a vaccine against it and pays the makers of the virus big bucks to release it, so the drug company can make a profit.
Also wonder how much USA grant money the makers of the virus received to create this.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:31pmSafe bet that your tax dollars are at work here.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:25pmThere is a fine line between… Geni & Idiots… and these guys are walking that line, with feet on each side!
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:24pmCreate a biological nightmare to scare the tar out of the people, and then come up with the answer through ready-made vaccinations that will be distributed only through Obamacare. Re-election inevitable.
Report Post »Ookspay
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:16pmI wonder how long it will be before Ron Paul says “Every nation has the right to create pandemic bird flu’s”?
Report Post »caleejr
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:51pmbwwaaahahahahaha
Report Post »c0mm0nsense
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:19pm@Ookspay
Report Post »“I wonder how long it will be before Ron Paul says “Every nation has the right to create pandemic bird flu’s”?”
I’m sure Bachmann will find a report some where (in her own mind) that states “Iran” Is just months away from developing a bird flu biological weapon and then then never tell us how she plans to stop them from killing all of us.
Ookspay
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 5:37pm@CommonSense, You’re late dude, Paulistinians are not beating up Bachmann anymore as she is in the single digits. It is now time to go after Newt! You know like the good Doctor has been doing with the millions you zealots have been funneling his way, so he will legalize weed!
Get with it Bro! Only attack the front runners, threaten third party campaigns, call people sheep and nazis… I’m sure Vechorik, Colt, Okie, Jefferson and the others can email you some updated marching orders.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:16pmMaybe it‘s part of the new world order’s plan to eliminate a few billion people. Somebody has a plan.
Report Post »SmallGovBigGuns
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:20pmi have heard alot of others say something along those lines. i sure hope not
Report Post »REPUBLICANINCALI
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:31pmAgreed :-(
Report Post »NoRoomForSocialismHere
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:45pmLooks more like it everyday
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:23pmSuppress your immune system & survive it.
Report Post »ADNIL
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:11pmFirst they will want to vaccinate us to weaken our immune systems, then they will release the infected mammals across the country/globe just before they disappear into the underground bunkers with the hepa air filters to wait it out until the virus does it’s work and mutates into a harmless strain. Then they will emerge from the bunkers to enslave, err… I mean “save” the survivors.
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