Examining debate over bird flu research

Feb 9 2012

In this post on KPLU's "Humanosphere" blog, journalist Tom Paulson describes "five reasons why you should not panic" about the recent news that two research teams have created bird flu strains that are easily transmissible among ferrets, which are used as a lab model for humans. Fears that terrorists possibly could use the information prompted the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity to request the scientists redact some information prior to publishing their study results and investigators worldwide to institute a 60-day moratorium on bird flu research, he notes. Paulson writes "that the scientific research community is already well on its way to improving our knowledge of H5N1," and concludes, "Even if these two papers are censored, the traditional approach of unfettered and open exploration appears likely to continue" (2/7).