Rense.com





More Insanity - 1918 Flu
Research In BSL
3 NOT BSL 4

From Patricia Doyle, PhD
 
Hello, Jeff - I was releived to read the following concerns of other scientists regarding working with the letal 1918 flu hybrid using BSL 3 instead of BSL 4.
 
In my opinion finding and working with the two genes expressing lethality should mandate the pathogen as a bioweapon and clearly should be worked on using BSL 4.
 
I shutter to think what accidental release of this new 1918 flu strain would mean in terms of lives lost. ....or, theft of the pathogen by persons unknown!
 
Patricia Doyle
 
INFLUENZA A VIRUS, VIRULENCE, 1918 PANDEMIC STRAIN (02)
 
A ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
 
Date: Fri 8 Oct 2004
From: Karl M Johnson
 
A comment on appropriate level of containment...
 
Professor Kawaoka's team is to be congratulated for successful recreation of the 1918 influenza virus with it apparent increased virulence for mice. But if that virulence transfers to humans, I am deeply concerned about his decision to take the agent from BSL-4 [biosafety level 4] containment to BSL-3 [biosafety level 3] after finding that level of pathogenicity. We have already experienced 3 breaks in technique and containment of the SARS coronavirus this year. Escape of this influenza strain could lead to a repeat of history that would be completely preventable if that virus were "put back in its box".
 
Personally, I would never permit work with this agent under conditions lower than BSL-4. The University of Wisconsin and appropriate federal agencies should convene an emergency meeting to sort this out, ensuring that Dr Kawaoka has ongoing access to BSL-4 containment so that he can continue this undeniably important work.
 
--
Karl M Johnson
<KarlMJohnson@aol.com>
 
[Dr Johnson expresses valid concerns about the disease security aspects of Dr Kawaoka's research, particularly in view of the finding of the enhanced pathogenicity of the construct containing the 1918 HA subunit. His call for a reassessment of the situation should be heeded. - Mod.CP]
 
 
Patricia A. Doyle, PhD
Please visit my "Emerging Diseases" message board at: http://www.clickitnews.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php?
Cat=&Board=emergingdiseases
Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
Go with God and in Good Health
 

Disclaimer






MainPage
http://www.rense.com


This Site Served by TheHostPros