Scientists Deliberately Created A Deadly Strain Of Bird Flu

BI: In an effort to better understand bird flu virus, a team of scientists from the Netherlands manufactured a new strain of H5NI that has the capacity to kill millions, according to The Daily Mail.

The scientific community is currently split over whether or not to publish details of the study, based on concerns that it could be used for bio-terrorism.

The Mail reports:

Traditionally scientific research has always been open so that fellow scientists can review the work of others and repeat their methods to try and learn from them.

But numerous scientists have said they believe research on the avian flu should be suppressed.

The paper is still undergoing review by the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), though a quote from the chairman of the organization doesn't inspire much confidence.

Paul Keim told The Daily Mail, "I can't think of another pathogenic organism that is as scary as this one. I don't think anthrax is scary at all compared to this."

Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/bird-flu-strain-2011-11#ixzz1fHCjnb3H