'Anthrax isn't scary at all.

[harhar]

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'Anthrax isn't scary at all compared to this': Man-made flu virus with potential to wipe out many millions if it ever escaped is created in research lab.

• Scientist responsible is bracing himself for a media storm
  
• Just five tweaks to H5N1 makes it more contagious
• Contagious version of bird flu could cause pandemic
• Scientists divided over whether findings can be released

A group of scientists is pushing to publish research about how they created a man-made flu virus that could potentially wipe out civilisation.

The deadly virus is a genetically tweaked version of the H5N1 bird flu strain, but is far more infectious and could pass easily between millions of people at a time.

The research has caused a storm of controversy and divided scientists, with some saying it should never have been carried out.

Deadly: The new strain of bird flu could wipe out millions of people at a time.

The current strain of H5N1 has only killed 500 people and is not contagious enough to cause a global pandemic.

But their are fears the modified virus is so dangerous it could be used for bio-warfare, if it falls into the wrong hands.

Virologist Ron Fouchier of the Erasmus Medical Centre in the Netherlands lead a team of scientists who discovered that a mere five mutations to the avian virus was sufficient to make it spread far more easily.
He conducted his tests on ferrets as the animals have become a model of choice for influenza and have similar respiratory tracts to humans.
Fouchier is so prepared for a media storm that he has hired an advisor to help him work on a communication strategy.

The research done was part of an international drive to understand H5N1 more fully.
Fouchier admitted the strain is 'one of the most dangerous viruses you can make' but is still adamant he wants to publish a paper describing how it was done.
The study is one of two which has caused serious debate about scientific freedom and about regulating research which might have potential public health benefits but at the same time could also be useful for bio-terrorism.

The other paper, also on H5N1, was done by a joint team at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Tokyo.

It is understood to have had comparable results to the study done by Fouchier.

Dangerous: It is feared if new details of the avian flu is published, it could be used for bioterrorism.

Both papers are now being reviewed by the U.S National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB).

NSABB does not have the power to prevent the publication but it could ask journals not to publish.

Paul Keim, chairman of NSABB, said: 'I can't think of another pathogenic organism that is as scary as this one. I don't think anthrax is scary at all compared to this.'
Traditionally scientific research has always been open so that fellow scientists can review the work of others and repeat their methods to try and learn from them.
But numerous scientists have said they believe research on the avian flu should be suppressed.
However bio-defense and flu expert Michael Osterholm, who is director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of innesota, said the work carried out was important medically.

He added he could not discuss the papers because he was a member of NSABB but said if they were published certain information could be withheld and made available to those who really need to know.
'We don't want to give bad guys a road map on how to make bad bugs really bad,' he said.

Source

[tsunade]

one word: "stupid", why not make/research more on medicine/cures/vaccine than this crap. >.<

[jangska]

ahaks ngano ila paman jud ning gibuhat mga kolokoy jud. naay daghan research buhaton ug ka gastohan nga pwede itambal sa mga sakit na wa pay cure. bright unta bogo lang.

[myandroid]

mga boang jud ning mga tawo nu...maghimo jud ug mga butang nga makaboang....boang jud

[ghostie2472]

one word: "stupid", why not make/research more on medicine/cures/vaccine than this crap. >.<

Humans are mostly fond of creating/researching on things that would kill/harm others. Humans are on a race to destroying not only the human population but the world. Diri bitaw sa pinas kay mas dako ug budget ang militarization compared to the budget allocated for education.

[Saickiek]

himu palang silag tambal sa AIDS dghan pa palipay kaysa mghimu sila sakit.graaaabehh

[maniniyot]

not so fast guys. this research is only bad if it will fall to the wrong hands.

The good thing about this find is that they now know this strain of virus can exist in the wild. They can now start researching for an anti-virus for it. What is 5 mutations? That can easily happen naturally in the wild. Good thing the scientist found about it even before the virus came up in the wild so they have time to research. Basin gani naa na ni nga strain pero wala pa lay tao na infected.

By publishing it, many scientist can help find an anti-virus or a cure for it. The danger of course is it can also fall to the wrong hands.


Any good knowledge that falls in the wrong hands turns ugly. Any bad knowledge that falls in the right people can turn good.

[moy1moy1]

Research on 'reanimation' viruses

[silentsky_042]

bogo-on...ma "I am legend" ta ani

[Maylyn]

i doubt this will use another weapon against HUMAN!