Deadly bird flu research: World Health Organization wants debate settled

By: Monica DyBuncio
Topics: News ,; Disease ,; Research

(Credit: istockphoto)

(CBS) Should scientists be allowed to create a deadly bird flu virus to study how it spreads? That difficult question lies at the heart of a debate that weighs the risks and benefits of avian influenza research. The World Health Organization has called for the debate to end this week during a Feb. 17-18 meeting in Geneva to decide how far scientists can go, Reuters reported.

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The mutant H5N1 bird flu virus that scientists created has the potential to cause a human pandemic - especially if it gets into the wrong hands - but it also has the potential to yield knowledge about reducing risk for contamination. So far, the virus has been shown to transmit only between ferrets. But this has raised concerns about transmission between other mammals, including humans, according to the journal Nature.

The WHO said in a public statement last December that it is "deeply concerned about the potential negative consequences" of the research, but also noted that "studies conducted under appropriate conditions must continue to take place."

In January, scientists around the world declared a 60-day moratorium on research - and that moratorium is coming to an end. The closed-door meeting will involve researchers, science journal editors, and representatives from the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity.

"It is important that research on these viruses should continue," Keiji Fukuda, assistant director-general for health security and environment with the WHO, told Reuters. "The question is not really should we continue to do research...but under what conditions can we do it so we don't unnecessarily create fears and risks."

Two papers are currently published in the journals Nature and Science, both only partially published versions, HealthPop reported. Laurie Garrett, of the Council on Foreign Relations, shared with Nature concerns about biohackers with home-brew molecular-biology labs, saying "You have to have your ears open to a broader range of society than just the people who look through microscopes."

Of the few bird flu viruses that have infected humans, H5N1 has caused the largest number of detected cases. According to the CDC, 60 percent of people infected with the virus died. But the CDC also suggests that the most severe cases are the ones most likely to be diagnosed and reported, and there have probably been milder causes that were not detected or reported.

The CDC has more on avian influenza and the H5N1 virus.

What do you think? Should scientists experiment with a virus that may cause a human pandemic?