Scientist Makes Mutant, Infectious Flu Virus in Lab

NBC News ^ | June11, 2014 | By Maggie Fox

[CorporateStepsister]

Flu experts have made a mutant version of the 1918 “Spanish flu” virus that killed tens of millions of people, sparking a new debate over whether such work is too dangerous.

Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin says the experiments are important for helping scientists understand how new pandemics start, and for designing better flu vaccines.

[KarlInOhio]

What could possibly go wrong?

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Here is a chart of the *major* natural mutations of H5N1 since it was discovered.

http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchObject.action?uri=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0049224.g004&representation=PNG_M

These mutations are happening in nature, and they will continue to happen. Eventually it is almost certain that they will come up with a form that is easily transmissible between humans.

Only if researchers can figure out what the pandemic murderous mutations are going to be before they happen naturally, do we have a chance to mitigate a plague like no other in human history.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Spanish flu virus created in Wisconsin lab...

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