Oops

[Gonz]

THERE IS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO

I want to to be made perfectly clear.

Now, on to the oops part.

Scientists have re-created the virus that caused the horrific 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, then sickened mice with the synthetic virus to gain chilling insights into what made the 1918 flu such an efficient killer.

Federal officials said the breakthrough, based on bits of DNA taken from tissue samples of the flu's long-dead victims, will help them detect signs that emerging flu strains could be particularly dangerous. But critics warned that the researchers may have inadvertently handed terrorists a potential weapon.

The 1918 flu, which killed 30 million to 50 million people worldwide, bears some similarity to the avian flu now circulating in Southeast Asia, said researchers with the Influenza Genome Sequencing Project. But in a telephone briefing, project leader Jeffery K. Taubenberger stressed that current flu strains would have to undergo several important genetic mutations to become as dangerous as the Spanish flu.

Officials at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency that re-created the 1918 virus, said their work will allow other researchers to develop more effective medicines and vaccines.

Some Boston thing

Alright. I have a larger level of trust in the CDC than on other gov't agencies. However, why make a copy of the deadliest flu outbreak in mankinds history when computer models can do an excellent job recreating them (or showing potential new strains).

Along with that story from the other day comes this one:

A cargo plane carrying small amounts of flu virus crashed on railway tracks near Winnipeg's city center Thursday, killing the pilot but missing buildings and vehicles, authorities said.

WHOA there Nelly. That's a little scary with the other story in context don't ya think? The follow up paragraph looks like a coverup...

The research samples of frozen influenza and herpes viruses were destroyed in the crash and ensuing fire along with other freight, Federal Express spokeswoman Karen Cooper said.

Run for your lives!!!!!!

AP

 

[paul_valaru]

this is the end

 

[unclehobart]

It makes me wonder if anyone at the CDC has read The Stand or not. Reviving superbug nasties from the past is simply not a good idea... even if the intent is noble. You simply can't poke a stick at the bearcage of mother nature and expect her to make nice-nice.