Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Let Loose the Germs of Annihilation

One question: Why?

Flu Lab Set to Open for 1918 Pandemic Virus Reconstruction

Edward Hammond, of the Austin, Texas-based Sunshine Project:

"They handle viruses that could kill tens of millions of people."

Kawaoka plans to study several kinds of flu viruses in the institute — including H5N1, the bird flu virus circulating in Asia, and a reconstructed version of the 1918 flu virus, which killed some 50 million people when it spread worldwide.

Though bird flu has dropped off the national news radar, Kawaoka said... a single genetic change could make the virus capable of spreading easily among people, Kawaoka said. If that happens, experts say the virus could be more dangerous than the 1918 flu.

H5N1 "is still spreading," Kawaoka said."

And you are going to help it along, 'eh, mad doctor?

Blogger quote:

Just why are they tinkering with such a slate-wiper?
-- Mike Rivero, What Really Happened"