Oh shit, US Government tries to restrict publication of details on avian flu virus

[DainBramaged]

that spreads among mammals

Although avian flu viruses have infected humans in the past (often with lethal effect), so far, these infections have come directly from birds. Over this past summer, however, researchers presented disturbing results at a scientific meeting. By growing the avian H5N1 virus in mammals for several generations, they had evolved a strain that can spread among mammals (ferrets, in this case) simply through the air. Additionally, researchers identified the mutations that enabled the virus to do so--the kind of information that would be enough to allow any competent molecular biologist to create an exact duplicate.

Like any scientists, these ones want to publish their results, but that's where things are getting messy. The US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity has asked both Nature and Science to "delete details regarding both scientific methodology and specific viral mutations before publishing." The journals recognize why the NSABB is concerned, but they also both feel that responsible researchers will need to know these details if they're to effectively study the risk of an H5N1 pandemic.

Currently, both have issued statements that they're considering the requests, but haven't yet decided how to proceed.

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2011/12/us-government-tries-to-restrict-publication-of-details-on-avian-flu-virus-that-spreads-among-mammals.ars


Just the fact that someone tried to make a mammalian version scares me

[NYC_SKP]

1. I agree, Our species is cuckoo.

Of course we don't want these published, but wtf are we doing these tests?

I suppose the scientists would justify it as in the interest of furthering science, or some crap, or that we need to do it to learn how to fight biological agents "the bad guys" might be cooking up.

Or, we ARE the "bad guys".

:shrug:

[undeterred]

2. This is at UW Madison.

They had a story on local news last night. What they are trying to suppress is details on how the investigator mutated the virus, so that only legitimate scientists can find out, not terrorists. This is a peer reviewed research department at a major university.

Like it or not, this is how science works.

[corpseratemedia]

3. I read in an article on I believe CommonDreams (can't cite it from this computer)

that our govt. funded this research - but the research was done by the Dutch. So I do not understanding now the govt. is having a problem when it went overseas to fund this research. Couldn't they have had the greatest security here? Why would these researchers be loyal to another govt. Anyone would expect them to be ethical enough not to share the information. But it sure seems, if I read it correctly (and I may not have!) like one heck of a weird tinfoily Pandora's Box.

Perhaps they were worried, when trying to legitimately come up with a super-vaccine, if it somehow escaped that it would be the US population that would first get hit with this mutant killer flu (?)

It is beyond my range of understanding but I hope they can find a working bird flu pandemic vaccine from this. Real soon!...!!!!!

[dtexdem]

4. I'm always wary of research that purports to be defensive or curative in nature ...

but that creates deadly weapons.

And the problem is that there are always ambiguities -- but that deadly weapons still get made.