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In an odd development that seems more like the plot line of a science fiction medical disaster movie, the U.S. government on Dec. 20, asked researchers and publishers of two separate scientific journals, Science and Nature to limit and delay publishing scientific studies.
Scientists were also asked to temporarily and voluntarily suspend research for 60 days on the H5N1 avian flu virus. A virologist, Ron Fouchier, working in the Netherlands in conjunction with the lab at the University of Wisconsin, is credited with creating the virus in a form that could spread between ferrets with just a few minor genetic modifications. Ferrets react to the flu virus in a way similar to humans.
Fouchier believes the science is appropriate and should be published in full, but he reluctantly authored a moratorium agreement that was signed by more than three dozen scientists. He and other scientists stipulated to the government that a mechanism be established to disseminate the information to legitimate flu researchers on a “need-to-know basis. Meanwhile, the scientists are planning to organize an international forum to debate the risks and benefits of the research.
“We recognize that we, and the rest of the scientific community, need to clearly explain the benefits of this important research and the measures taken to minimize the possible risks,” the scientists said.
We recognize that we, and the rest of the scientific community, need to clearly explain the benefits of this important research and the measures taken to minimize the possible risks.
–from the agreement
According to Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease and Policy at the University of Minnesota, “…even though the science was useful, the virus could potentially escape lab containment by accident.” Osterholm is also a member of a Biosecurity Advisory Board. He says, “You also have to look at the risk benefit ratio.” Many scientists and biosecurity experts have long believed it is only a matter of time before a virus manages to naturally mutate and infect humans. It could also mutate in a lab through deliberate manipulation by bioterrorists. The end result could be a fatal worldwide re-emergence of a monster virus.
According to the lead investigator of the research submitted to the journal Nature, Yoshihito Kawaoka, of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, “Scientists need to have their voices heard in this debate. …We hope that by having calm and reasoned discussion of the facts, scientist and biosecurity experts can reach a better understanding and find ways to enable the research to go forward while minimizing risks.”
The suppression was only recently reported on Jan. 20. The action was taken on advice of the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity. The journals were told they could report the findings, but not to release details "that could enable replication of the experiments by those who would seek to do harm” (see ‘Call to censor flu studies draws fire’). The reason given for the unusual move is said to be that the virus could be created in an airborne form that passes readily from mammal to mammal. Influenza pandemics are acknowledged to be caused by viruses that evolve from animals like birds and pigs, and later genetically mutate in a way that increases their ability to be transmitted to humans. Scientist first became interested in the virus in the mid 1990’s when there was an outbreak in Asia.
The request, and subsequent suppression of details, has ignited a firestorm of criticism and concerns about how and what — and by whom — should be revealed in the future when dangerous and potentially risky scientific findings could pose problems if they were to fall into the wrong hands. The U.S. government, the World Health Organization and other bodies are looking into putting accountability measures in place to ensure oversight in the future. The mortality risk for the H5N1 virus is said to be roughly sixty percent. There have only been about 600 known cases and those were attributable to people who had direct contact with poultry.
Mel Borup Chandler writes about science related topics, technological breakthroughs and medicine. His E-mail address is mbccomentator@roadrunner.com.
