Scientists condemn 'crazy, dangerous' creation of deadly airborne flu virus

[5.56NATO]

"Scientists have created a life-threatening virus that closely resembles the 1918 Spanish flu strain that killed an estimated 50m people in an experiment labelled as "crazy" by opponents.

US researchers said the experiments were crucial for understanding the public health risk posed by viruses currently circulating in wild birds, but critics condemned the studies as dangerous and called on funders to stop the work.

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison used a technique called reverse genetics to build the virus from fragments of wild bird flu strains. They then mutated the virus to make it airborne to spread more easily from one animal to another.

"The work they are doing is absolutely crazy. The whole thing is exceedingly dangerous," said Lord May, the former president of the Royal Society and one time chief science adviser to the UK government. "Yes, there is a danger, but it's not arising form the viruses out there in the animals, it's arising from the labs of grossly ambitious people.""
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2...orne-flu-virus





"It seemed like a good idea at the time...."

[Ruskiegunlover]

Even if they don't create it, nature herself will eventually. These things happen, and man cannot control it. We can respond.....

I spend one full class for each of my world history classes on the 1918 flu. Explain how it worked, how it killed, what happened to it, and why we should study it (because it WILL happen again someday).....REALLY gets their interest.

[Zygomatic]

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison....

Thank goodness this isn't happening at a major party school or anything. Oh, wait...

[5.56NATO]

The Federation of American Scientists have a very interesting map for all the hypochondriacs and people living in permanent fear of a deadly virus epidemic. Or a zombie outbreak. These are all the (known) Biosafety Level 3 and 4 facilities in the world—high containment laboratories that work with "dangerous and emerging pathogens." Zoom in the image to see if there's any near you.
http://gizmodo.com/5921151/do-you-li...ard-laboratory

Yes the virii and so on should be studied, but when you intentionaly militarise them, ie aerosolised, what is the point?
I feel asking these brilliant minds if they feel the world has an excess human population is in order.

[imanaknut]

I guess they are getting tired at screaming that the latest natural virus is going to kill half the world, and only two people on the earth can be said to have died from the epidemic to end all epidemics. Since nature isn't listening to these wackos, they might as well create a good one and see if they can do what nature can't.

Sick.

[studmuffin]

I hope all realize that most of us are descendents of those who were exposed and likely survived the 1918 influenza. There is no assurance that the same flu bug would have as dramatic affect today. I am not saying it would not be dangerous, but would it be as dangerous as in 1918.

[Helen Keller]

a nasty strain would kill off anyone with a weak immune system IE: babies, elderly , hiv/aids, cancer patients.

[Ruskiegunlover]

Say what you want. History shows repeated disease outbreaks, especially as populations got too big. Its been 96 years since the last (argueably worst ever) disease outbreak. I am not being alarmist. Just passing on what I consider to be a very strong likelihood. Do you guys really believe man controls the planet? Do you believe man controls mother nature? We don't. Pride goes before a fall.......Maybe not in our lifetime, but it will happen again.


And the gene pool has been so diluted, I don't think anyone is alive that would still have immunity to the H1N1 1918 virus. No chance. Too many generations, so I'd say its gone now.

[studmuffin]

The same gene markers that provided immunity or greater survivability to the black plague can be found in most european decendents today.

[Kadmos]

a nasty strain would kill off anyone with a weak immune system IE: babies, elderly , hiv/aids, cancer patients.

Not necessarily, the 1918 virus was notable in that it mostly killed healthy young adults, it turned their stronger immune system against them in what is known as a cytokine storm, an abnormally strong immune system response.

Basically put, the stronger your immune system was, the more likely you were to die.

[5.56NATO]

Say what you want. History shows repeated disease outbreaks, especially as populations got too big. Its been 96 years since the last (argueably worst ever) disease outbreak. I am not being alarmist. Just passing on what I consider to be a very strong likelihood. Do you guys really believe man controls the planet? Do you believe man controls mother nature? We don't. Pride goes before a fall.......Maybe not in our lifetime, but it will happen again.


And the gene pool has been so diluted, I don't think anyone is alive that would still have immunity to the H1N1 1918 virus. No chance. Too many generations, so I'd say its gone now.

Yes, so lets create the worst possible in laboratory conditions!

Brilliant!

[l921428x]

The Federation of American Scientists have a very interesting map for all the hypochondriacs and people living in permanent fear of a deadly virus epidemic. Or a zombie outbreak. These are all the (known) Biosafety Level 3 and 4 facilities in the world—high containment laboratories that work with "dangerous and emerging pathogens." Zoom in the image to see if there's any near you.
http://gizmodo.com/5921151/do-you-li...ard-laboratory

Yes the virii and so on should be studied, but when you intentionaly militarise them, ie aerosolised, what is the point?
I feel asking these brilliant minds if they feel the world has an excess human population is in order.

I helped build one of those laboratories CDC Atlanta, Emory Uni. 8 inch walls will not stop a virus.
play God and maybe God will play with you.

[Oswald Bastable]

Captain Tripps...coming to city near you soon.

[Schuetzenman]

Captain Tripps...coming to city near you soon.

Exactly.

[Ruskiegunlover]

I was not justifying its creation in a lab. Just saying do not believe for a second we will not suffer another epidemic in our world. It will happen.

[studmuffin]

Yes, so lets create the worst possible in laboratory conditions!

Brilliant!

Correct Kadmos. The 1918 influenza created a cytokine storm in healthy immune systems, where the immune system literally destroyed the host body. Other side affects were brain damage and long term paralysis for some of those who survived the virus.

[studmuffin]

I helped build one of those laboratories CDC Atlanta, Emory Uni. 8 inch walls will not stop a virus.
play God and maybe God will play with you.

The institute for biomedical research in san antonio is the only level 3 facility in the world with a window. I just happened to know that by accident.