Avian Flu Researcher Backs Down On Plan To Defy Publishing Ban

ananyo writes "Ron Fouchier, a researcher at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, whose work on the H5N1 avian flu virus has been embroiled in controversy, has now agreed to apply for an export permit to submit his work to the journal Science. Fouchier's paper is one of two reporting the creation of forms of the H5N1 virus capable of spreading between mammals. The other, by Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and the University of Tokyo, and his colleagues, has already been submitted to Nature. Fouchier had said last week that he intended to defy the government and submit the work to Science without seeking the export permit that the Dutch government says is required." In related news, renek noted that the U.S. NIH director supports publishing the papers in full.

way to cave

[X0563511]

Pansy.

Too much sophistry

[adamchou]

I'm all for freedom of information. But in this instance, what reason do we have to release it to people that aren't working at research labs? Why would the hobbyist need access to this? I agree, we need to release this to researchers so we can develop a vaccine. But can a person who's not working at a serious research facility develop a vaccine before the eco-terrorist with basic biology skills develop a weaponized form of the virus? I'm not an SME on the field, but I'd bet that the answer is no.

And for all those saying you guns can kill people or that nuclear technology can kill people. First off, a gun kills a few, maybe tens of people at a time, at most. A weaponized virus will kill millions, tens of millions, or hundreds of millions at a time. And as for nuclear technology, it takes substantial infrastructure to weaponize nuclear technology. It only takes a home lab to weaponize a biological threat. So please, stop comparing apples and oranges.

The government has no reason to prevent this information from getting to legitimate research institutions. In fact, they've already said that they want this to go to legitimate research institutions. They'res just trying to prevent this from getting in the hands of the religious nut that wants to start the second coming of christ or the eco-terrorist that feels humans should be exterminated from this planet.