No way of stopping leak of deadly new flu, says terror chief.
Report: World Health Organization Investigating Claims of Human Error Behind Swine Flu Virus. NSABB. Outbreak: super-flu research to be published? Peptide Hydrogel. Hemaglutanin. Ron Foucher Erasmus. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1. According to the World Health Organization and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, H5N1 pathogenicity is gradually continuing to rise in endemic areas, but the avian influenza disease situation in farmed birds is being held in check by vaccination, and so far there is "no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission" of the virus.[3] Eleven outbreaks of H5N1 were reported worldwide in June 2008 in five countries (China, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and Vietnam) compared to 65 outbreaks in June 2006 and 55 in June 2007.
The global HPAI situation significantly improved in the first half of 2008, but the FAO reports that imperfect disease surveillance systems mean that occurrence of the virus remains underestimated and underreported.[4] In July 2013 the WHO announced a total of 630 confirmed human cases which resulted in the deaths of 375 people since 2003.[5] Overview[edit] Signs and symptoms[edit] Genetics[edit] Terminology[edit] Genetic structure and related subtypes[edit] Avian influenza - PubMed Health. Scientists Brace for Media Storm Around Controversial Flu Studies. ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS—Locked up in the bowels of the medical faculty building here and accessible to only a handful of scientists lies a man-made flu virus that could change world history if it were ever set free. The virus is an H5N1 avian influenza strain that has been genetically altered and is now easily transmissible between ferrets, the animals that most closely mimic the human response to flu.
Scientists believe it's likely that the pathogen, if it emerged in nature or were released, would trigger an influenza pandemic, quite possibly with many millions of deaths. In a 17th floor office in the same building, virologist Ron Fouchier of Erasmus Medical Center calmly explains why his team created what he says is "probably one of the most dangerous viruses you can make"—and why he wants to publish a paper describing how they did it. Fouchier is also bracing for a media storm. Some scientists say that's reason enough not to do such research. 'Anthrax isn't scary at all compared to this': Man-made flu virus with potential to wipe out many millions should never have been created, warns frightened scientist.
By Daily Mail Reporter Updated: 15:36 GMT, 28 November 2011 Scientist responsible is bracing himself for a media stormJust five tweaks to H5N1 makes it more contagiousContagious version of bird flu could cause pandemicScientists 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. The research done was part of an international drive to understand H5N1 more fully.
Deadly man-made strain of H5N1 bird flu virus raises controversy. A group of scientists are trying to publish a paper on how they created a new flu virus that could wipe out all humanity. The study that produced the virus is the subject of raging controversy, with some scientists saying it should never have been done. Concern about the threat of the virus is heightened by the realization of the damage it could do if it is accidentally released from the laboratory or it gets into the hands of people who may want to use it for mischievous purposes.
The research study has raised a debate on the limits of scientific freedom, especially in cases of "dual-use research," that is, studies with potential public health benefit but which could also be adapted for mischief, such as bio-warfare. Daily Mail reports the new deadly virus is the genetically modified version of H5N1 bird flu virus. The new virus, however, is much more infectious than the original H5N1 strain, and if accidentally released could spread across the globe in a short time.