Scientists Put Controversial Research With Deadly Lab-Bred Bird Flu on Hold
- Posted on January 20, 2012 at 2:29pm by
Liz Klimas
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Scientists Pause Research With Lab-Bred bird flu
WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — Scientists who created easier-to-spread versions of the deadly bird flu said Friday they’re temporarily halting more research, as international specialists debate what should happen next.
Researchers from leading flu laboratories around the world signed onto the voluntary moratorium, published Friday in the journals Science and Nature.
What the scientists called a “pause” comes amid fierce controversy over how to handle research that’s high-risk but potentially could bring a big payoff. Two labs — at Erasmus University in the Netherlands and the University of Wisconsin-Madison — created the new viruses while studying how bird flu might mutate to become a bigger threat to people.
The U.S. government funded the work but last month urged the teams not to publicly reveal the exact formula so that would-be bioterrorists couldn’t copy it. Critics also worried a lab accident might allow the strains to escape. The researchers reluctantly agreed not to publish all the details as long as the government set up a system to provide them to legitimate scientists who really need to know. The National Institutes of Health is creating such a system.
“We recognize that we and the rest of the scientific community need to clearly explain the benefits of this important research and the measures taken to minimize its possible risks,” lead researchers Ron Fouchier of Erasmus and Yoshihiro Kawaoka of Wisconsin wrote Friday in the letter. They were joined by nearly three dozen other flu researchers.
They called for a public international meeting to debate how to learn from the work, safely. And they agreed to hold off on additional research with the existing lab-bred strains or that leads to any new ones for 60 days.
A U.S. official praised the development.
The moratorium “is a really good idea, because a lot of very important issues are at hand,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who expects most flu researchers doing such work to sign on. “There aren’t a lot of people who are doing that, I can assure you.”
The U.S. also wants international input; researchers are talking with the World Health Organization.
At the same time, Science reports that a group of researchers, including virologists Peter Palese and Adolfo García-Sastre of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, petitioned the government today to allow full disclosure in publication of this research stating that fears of bioterrorism are “overblown”:
“Realistically, there is no direct evidence that the specific viruses would even cause disease in humans (other than in cases when mega-amounts are inhaled) or transmit between humans,” they write. “The oft-cited claim that influenza H5N1 infection is highly lethal is not justified: though a number of deaths have been reported, the total number of human infections that led to these deaths is not known and may well be higher than currently appreciated.”
“The findings reported in the manuscripts are likely to advance influenza research and we argue that it is unreasonable to suggest that their publication will speed the development of a biologic weapon,” they add. “The time to generation of a virus by de novo engineering from raw sequence data is probably longer than the age-old method of virus passage in mammals/mammalian cells.”
Today, the so-called H5N1 bird flu only occasionally infects people, mostly those who have close contact with sick poultry. But when it does, it’s highly lethal. The lab-bred H5N1 strains were a surprise because they showed it was easier than previously thought for the virus to mutate in a way that lets it spread easily between at least some mammals – in this case, ferrets.
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Mr Galt
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 10:23pmThere is a lot of research of all types going into Avian flu. Not only can some strains jump to humans (something that is excessively beaten to death by our sensationalist media), but more importantly, they can decimate poultry production and are a major threat to the food supply.
I’ve heard stories from some of the researchers I work with of Avian flu hitting one or two individuals in a hen house, and the whole population being wiped out in days. This is a serious problem, especially in regions (such as Asia) which are highly dependent on poultry for a stable and affordable source of protein.
Report Post »bets
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 8:15pmThis is nuts. The whole world was going nuts about the bird flu many people did die. Science was worried that that bug would mutate and spread from one person to the next or from bird to human and go around the world. Now these guys are suprised by how easily the could make the nasty bug spread to a farrett? Just because you can do a thing does not mean that you should do that thing. Geeeezzzzz
Report Post »readyfornov
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 6:47pmI heard on radio the other night that at the Level 4 Bio Lab in Texas there is no high security. I don‘t know if that’s true or not but if it is we are in deep do. Fears of Bio-terrorism is overblown! What a load of crap.
Report Post »For what reason would our own government develop a deadly virus that could kill of a whole population? Population control?
judyaz
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 5:42pmHow could anyone believe they are supporting science by making weapons of mass destruction that would kill off populations around the Globe? How would that help any side? And what research are they halting? The vaccine to prevent it, although viruses mutate during a spreading season, as we know? This is more unethical than imaginable. For what, research money? When your loved ones are dead form it, how will your money bring you happiness?
Report Post »judyaz
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 5:49pmWhat the scientists called a “pause” comes amid fierce controversy over how to handle research that’s high-risk but potentially could bring a big payoff.
There are so many ways to conduct scientific experiments. Hitler did quite a few. Perhaps you could think of a safer thing to study?
Report Post »judyaz
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 5:52pmAre fears overblown? Gee, if a nuclear power, such as Russia, or university education or scientific publications provide instructions on how to build a nuclear bomb, it might be “overblown” of us to think anyone might develop one? (Get the pun?)
Report Post »judyaz
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 6:07pmOne good thing about the bird flu is that it infects and kllls the young and those with healthy immune responses first. So those who are elderly might outlive the children and healthy young adults. Isn’t average age of most of the world young people? Of course, what future does that leave the rest of us for our heritage?
Report Post »I’m just making an equally ridiculous statement as the thought that no one will misuse the information petitioned to be published. Or that somehow, it hasn’t been proven scientifically that no one on earth will ever misuse it yet. And until we know it for a proven fact, we shouldn’t be cautious.
And if you have to breathe it in, well, that’s how weapons of mass destruction are used, aren’t they, in densely populated areas, such as airports or malls?
What is the motive behind this research? Does anyone know who’d like to tell us?
One of the Quiet Ones
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 4:10pmThe question people should ask is why can’t we do anything about this?
Report Post »db321
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 4:43pmWe will get around to doing something about it – but right now, we are too busy getting in line like Lemmings for our Flu Shots.
I have never had a flu shot and I never will take one. People just need someone to tell them what to do and how to do it – I go to God for my instructions.
Report Post »midnightvelvet
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 2:38pmFirst: create a potential pandemic. Second: think about the ethics of said creation.
This bunch really has their act together. This is one of the best examples I‘ve seen that high IQ doesn’t equal wisdom.
Report Post »alina.bolero
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 5:58amUmmmm … explain again why my tax dollars are paying for the creation and production of incurable and uncontrollable weapons of mass destruction?
Biological and chemical weaponry DOES NOT apply to the “common defense” of this nation! Make all the bombs and bullets you need, but THIS is insanity!
Report Post »txn4justice
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 5:02amGee, thanks guys. Really appreciate “The Umbrella Corporation” putting these plans on hold until Raccoon City can be built.
Thanks again.
Report Post »Blue Istari
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:07am“We recognize that we and the rest of the scientific community need to clearly explain the benefits of this important research and the measures taken to minimize its possible risks,”
If you need to stop and explain it, that‘s the first and best sign that what you’re doing is most likely asinine.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 8:02amKind of reminds you of Omega Man, or I Am Legend….doesn’t it? They push that bird flu vaccine or the swine flu vaccine too much to suit me. It’s funny, the CDC says the people who need it the most are the “at risk” people, like with low immunities, elderly, those with a heart condition, etc. My son‘s pediatrician told me that no one in my household should get the vaccine while I’m going through/recovering from cancer treatment because they could make me sick. And now they bundle the H1N1 with the regular flu shot so you can’t just take a flu shot. They’re even free for retired military…hmmm.
Report Post »rienheart
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:05amjust a prelude for things to come, no working on cures either. Culling the herd soon.
Report Post »Roros
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 9:56pmNice of you to “Put it on hold”, not ready to Kill innocent people.
Report Post »USAqh
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 9:36pmmy Goodness… read your history people … scientists are NOT interested in being your friends … and this is why I live in the hinterlands …
Report Post »Uechi
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 9:01pmIf you believe that, I have some ocean front property In Arizona I’d like to sell you or perhaps a bridge in Brooklyn?
Report Post »chips1
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 7:46pmI remember reading a few years ago about the large number of Bio Scientists in the U.S. being killed. Does anyone else know about it?
Report Post »WeDontNeedNoSteenkinBadges07
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 7:30pm“Scientists who created easier-to-spread versions of the deadly bird flu said Friday they’re temporarily halting more research, as international specialists debate what should happen next.”
So what’s your problem here? Just follow your Progressives (communist) play-book to depopulate the gun-toting Americans as prelude to the final take-over.
Actually, what is needed is … the names and addresses of these “scientists”.
“You know what to do! Get in there and kill’em all!” -Lt. Johnny Rico (when bugs of a different kind attack), “Starship Troopers 3”
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 7:03pmDidn’t any of these nuts read The Stand? Don’t mess with kind of crap!
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 7:00pmAny of these nuts ever read The Stand?
Report Post »Vickie Dhaene
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 6:31pmI would not trust anyone at anytime to “promise Not To…..ANYTHING.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 5:11pm“Realistically, there is no direct evidence that the specific viruses would even cause disease in humans”
Right. Dugway Proving Grounds and Toelle Army Depot are not involved in any biological and chemical weapons development either. Just ignore the dead cattle and sheep.
Report Post »iblvingd
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 5:07pmYes and we Americans are supposed to believe that these pandemic flu viruses just happen and are not spread by the government to depopulate the world. Along with the poisoning of food by Monsanto, the EMP dangers……”.A world Moritorium”? Wake up America vote for a President to stop this mania, vote out ALL congressman sitting with two or more terms. Take back control.
Report Post »Lotus503
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 4:59pmYou know…I never could figure out why anyone would want to develop anything that has the potential to destroy the population of the world. Is it hubris, stupidity or just plain insanity?
Report Post »A Conservatarian
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 4:52pmThis is the dumbest thing a scientist could do, I do think… the gov. scientific bodies should really take a look at verdantly messing with evolution before stepping in and making super duper deadly viruses.
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