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Deadly H5N1 Flu Studies To Stay Secret... For Now

Posted by Soulskill on from the those-birds-are-not-trustworthy dept.

Edsj writes "A spokesman for the World Health Organization announced that an agreement had been reached, after a debate, to keep details secret of the controversial work about the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu virus until deeper risk analyses have been carried out. The scientists who made the study, led by Ron Fouchier, still want to release the full paper at some future date for public viewing, but for the time being, the NSABB got what it wanted." The moratorium will be extended "probably for several months."

6 of 111 comments (clear)

  1. Wikipedia says by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza_A_virus_subtype_H5N1

    On October 10, 2011 the WHO announced a total of 566 human cases which resulted in the deaths of 332 people since 2003

    So it kills about 58% of the people it infects

    1. Re:Wikipedia says by Hadlock · · Score: 4, Insightful

      So which weapon has a higher long term mortality rate to the innocent? Land mines or biological warfare? Iran's research in nuclear weapons seems so passe at this point. As we approach 10 billion people on this blue marble, the chances that we'll cull our numbers by 20% or more using some novel new method seems to race towards 1 at a faster and faster rate.

      --
      moox. for a new generation.
  2. Reworded Title by CanHasDIY · · Score: 4, Funny

    Government Organization Declares Self Sole Proprietor of Bio-Terrorism

    And as we all know, government officials never use such exclusivity of information for their own personal profit.

    Nothing to worry about here, Citizen, now move along...

    --
    An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
  3. Cat is out of bag anyway by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    As was brought up couple weeks back in SciFri, the study abstract and rough process which has been talked publicly is enough for skilled laboratory to try same. Passing the virus just trough five ferret infections to get it spreading over air is so simple and little that it might happen anyway naturally over time without human intervention.

    All we can do and should do is start developing vaccines now and not wait until we would be too late. It takes about 6 months to develop and produce enough vaccine. Thinking that the lethality of H1N5 is about 50% compared to smallpox ~40% it's going to be enormous panic to get it done if any preparations were not done beforehand.

  4. The fact that this is kept secret only means... by gatkinso · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ... that it is relatively easy to produce this deadly strain.

    If it were hard, say like producing an atomic bomb (rather, producing the fuel for an atomic bomb)... then there would be no reason to keep it secret.

    --
    I am very small, utmostly microscopic.
  5. 58% figure is bogus by estitabarnak · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The 58% figure is not the number of people who were exposed to the virus and died. It is not the number of people who have been exposed and successfully infected and died.

    The 58% figure is the number of people who were SO sick that it warranted going to the hospital, and then died.

    Serological surveys have shown that in the populations where H5N1 has been historically present there are an extensive number of people who have been infected, successfully mounted an immune response, and survived. And even that says nothing about the people who were exposed and did not get sick.

    The 50-60% figure has been getting a ton of coverage in the press, and is total bullshit. As a reason to censor scientific research, it is total bullshit.