WHO warns about H5N1 bird flu studies

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern about two new H5N1 bird flu studies, which have already drawn attention from the US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity. The two research teams, one in the US and one in the Netherlands, created a strain of the H5N1 virus that is easily transferable among humans, in order to study the virus to prevent future pandemics. H5N1 generally does not transmit well person-to-person, but 60 percent of those who do become infected die from the disease. Amid concerns that the knowledge of how to mutate the virus could be used by bioterrorists, the US Advisory Board has asked two journals to publish redacted versions of the studies. WHO stresses the need for scientific research on influenza and pandemics, but is also “deeply concerned about the potential negative consequences” of these studies and urges all member states and research groups to work within the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework adopted earlier this year.