Genetically Altered Avian Flu Experiments Under Review by Biosecurity Board – Major Controversy Brewing
November 25, 2011 By
{Rotterdam, The Netherlands}
A genetically altered strain of H5Ni avian influenza A virus (also known as “bird flu”) is under tight security at a medical facility in The Netherlands, pending formal review by the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) of a research paper (Fouchier et al) reporting the results of recent animal contagion experiments.
According to reports ahead of publication, the paper details the results of the genetic modification experiments, as well as the fact that, due to this modification, the strain is now “easily transmissible” between ferrets. Ferrets are the ideal animal model for flu studies as their bodies most closely mimic the flu reaction in humans.
The new strain of flu — if it were to be accidentally released — would cause a world-wide influenza pandemic that would likely kill millions, scientist familiar with the project believe.
More Details on the Experiments and Major Concerns
The team of virologists, headed by Ron Fouchier of Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, is preparing itself for a mass media storm of criticism, even while Fouchier, in a recent interview, describes the new strain as “probably one of the most dangerous viruses you can make.” [source: Science Insider] Fouchier also wants the paper published.
Enter the NSABB, which handles only a few such ‘biosecurity risk’, scientific papers each year. This paper has become perhaps its highest priority review in years. This emerging story highlights the growing conflict between scientific and security interests over so-called ‘dual use’ research, wherein a laboratory development/breakthrough has both great scientific utility but also a real potential for use in biowarfare or by bioterrorists.
The title of the paper has not been released to the press, but according to a few earlier news items (in the New Scientist and Scientific American) from a September scientific meeting in Malta, sufficient details of how the strain of H5Ni avian flu was created are included in the paper.
How the Strain was Created
The earlier news items explained how Fouchier, after......
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