Bird flu summit extends research halt
Monday February 20th, 2012
Controversial research into mutated bird flu viruses has highlighted the risk to humanity from the disease, international officials have warned.
But
details of the research will remain secret for the moment - responding
to fears it could fall into the hands of bioterrorists, it was announced.
The decision was taken at a meeting convened by the World Health Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland.
The scientists were instructed to halt their research earlier this year after government security officials became alarmed about the creation of new killer viruses in the laboratory.
They had been studying the H5N1 bird flu virus. The virus can infect humans - and kills most of those infected - but has proved unable to transmit between humans.
WHO said research on the "naturally occurring" virus must be stepped up following the risks identified by the new research.
WHO assistant director-general Dr Keiji Fukuda said: “Given the high death rate associated with this virus - 60 per cent of all humans who have been infected have died - all participants at the meeting emphasised the high level of concern with this flu virus in the scientific community and the need to understand it better with additional research.
“The results of this new research have made it clear that H5N1 viruses have the potential to transmit more easily between people underscoring the critical importance for continued surveillance and research with this virus."
He added: “There is a preference from a public health perspective for full disclosure of the information in these two studies. However there are significant public concern surrounding this research that should first be addressed."
Tags: Flu & Viruses | Respiratory | World Health
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