Engineered Avian Flu Could Kill Half the World’s Humans

[beer]

This isn't a movie. It's not a classic Science Fiction book. This is the real story of a scientist who created a virus with the power to litter the Earth with billions of dead bodies.

OK, now breathe. Or maybe don't—the virus is airborne.

In his Netherlands laboratory, virologist Ron Fouchier was experimenting with the avian flu virus to see how it could become even more virulent. (Red flag.) His research involved spreading it throughout a population of ferrets, and he noticed that as the virus reproduced, it adapted to spread even faster. (RED FLAG.) Not worried about ferret flu? Previous research has shown that any strains of influenza that can pass between ferrets can also pass between humans. (RED FLAAAAAAAAAG.) Ten generations later, his efforts had created an airborne strain with the power could kill half the human population. (RED FUCKING FLAG, DUDE!)

Fouchier, who conducted his research at Erasmus Medical Centre admitted that the new strain is "probably one of the most dangerous viruses you can make." He presented his work at the influenza conference in Malta this September. Now he wants to publish his study in a scientific journal, so those responsible for responding to bioterrorism can be prepared for the worst case scenario. Seems like a no-brainer, right? Not exactly. The research has set off alarms among colleagues who are urging Fouchier not to publish, for fear the recipe could wind up in the wrong hands. Some question whether the research should have been done in the first place. Fair point!

Typically H5N1 affects birds, but about 10 years ago it emerged in humans, first in Asia, then traveling around the world. Human cases are rare—about 600 total—but they are deadly, killing about half the people infected.

The reason avian flu isn't more common is because it's not an airborne contagion—at least it hasn't been until now. With the un-engineered version, you have to touch something that's been contaminated to get sick. But Fouchier's version is airborne, meaning being in the vicinity of the disease and breathing it in would be enough to contract it. It's as contagious as the human seasonal flu, but much more deadly. And now Fouchier wants to publish how he made it that way.

His fellow bioterrorism experts are thinking that's maybe not the best idea, because then anyone who got their hands on the paper could reproduce Fouchier's results. Microbial geneticist Paul Keim, an anthrax expert and chair of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (which will decide whether Fouchier can publish) told Science Insider:

I can't think of another pathogenic organism that is as scary as this one. I don't think anthrax is scary at all compared to this.

But Fouchier and a handful of other scientists who have performed similar experiments believe publishing would help the scientific community prepare for an H5N1 pandemic. Not publishing, they say, could leave researchers in the dark as to how to respond to an outbreak. But a pandemic made possible in the first place by the publication creates a bit of a chicken and egg question—and that's why the NSAB has an unenviably difficult decision to make.

(

source)

No man or country should possess this kind of power. Imagine if stolen or gotten into the wrong hands...

:fear:

[digimon]

news flash man has had the power to eridcate all life on earth arguable even more dangerous then even the flu virus are nuclear wepeons the kill everything not just humans and birds

man has had the power to wipe out life on earth for over 50 years

[beer]

news flash man has had the power to eridcate all life on earth arguable even more dangerous then even the flu virus are nuclear wepeons the kill everything not just humans and birds

man has had the power to wipe out life on earth for over 50 years

If you read the article the point is not just about how many people it can kill but the fact that the man behind this research is not taking enough precaution to safe guard his research.

His fellow bioterrorism experts are thinking that's[publishing his study] maybe not the best idea, because then anyone who got their hands on the paper could reproduce Fouchier's results..

I think what many people don't realize is that making a nuclear bomb is very very difficult, and much more so than making a bio-chemical lab. The challenge is more than just obtaining nuclear material (Reference Article Below:Why It's So Hard to Make Nuclear Weapons).

Scientists would also have to devise the nuclear warhead, a task Kristensen says that even nations with established nuclear weapons programs have found to be “very tough.”

(source:

Live Sciences)

Think about the spread and geographical reach of SARs. And now think about the people who are trying really hard to get their hands on this stuff (cough..terrorists). Finally, realize how much more deadlier this contagion is and how this study was so close to being published. Just because we have developed weapon of mass destruction in the past it does make these super viral contagion any less threatening.

[bgood]

there has not been any weapon that has been developed throughout history that has not been used nuclear or other wise..they all get used..

yea..wonderful..i want a vial full for Christmas & a big @ss fan..NOT!