Posted on 12/24/2024 10:45:32 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
As the H5N1 bird flu virus steamrolls its way across the globe — killing wild animals, commercial livestock and even some people — scientists and health officials fear we’re on the precipice of another global pandemic.
But when, where and how that could come to pass is hard to predict — in part, some researchers say, because of guardrails the federal government has placed around gain-of-function research.
The term describes experiments that seek to understand a virus’ potential to adapt to new hosts, spread more easily, survive longer in the environment and cause those infected to become sicker. Though many scientists view the approach as a critical tool for conducting biological research, other experts have long complained that it’s unacceptably risky — a reputation exacerbated by persistent speculation that the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic was created in gain-of-function experiments in a laboratory in Wuhan, China.
That led many virologists to steer clear of the work to avoid its stigma and regulatory red tape. Some in the field say that has deprived officials of valuable information that could have helped them anticipate and prepare for H5N1’s next moves.
“Do I believe if that research was more widely accepted, we’d have a better grip on this virus and what it might do next? Or how quickly it could change? Or what that would take?” asked Richard Webby, director of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds. “YES.”
Felicia Goodrum, a molecular virologist at the University of Arizona, said gain-of-function research could enable health officials to recognize worrisome H5N1 mutations and identify targets for antivirals and vaccines.
“Without it, we’re just flying in the dark,” she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Sounds like a business model.
All they have to do is lockup Bill Gates and most of this crap will go away
I guess they’re forgetting all the other outbreaks of H5N1 we’ve had, since 1996 and even before.
Don’t mess with dangerous “gain of function” “research”!
https://video.disney.com/watch/sorcerer-s-apprentice-fantasia-4ea9ebc01a74ea59a5867853
“All they have to do is lockup Bill Gates and most of this crap will go away”
The son-of-a-bitch and his family never got jabbed. They can always run to their bunker on Maui.
Yup, gain of function worked so very well for COVID.
And, we can always trust our ‘eddikated’ journalists out there to let us know what research is needed for any problem.
Scans the government and medical establishment went totalitarian over a moderately bad flu and censored, impoverished and locked up American s and the perpetrators must be punished, not trusted.
Do not comply with these vicious totalitarians.
Odd how the people that believe the world is over populated are also pushing vaccines for diseases that have low death rates.
Because with the other hand they are creating H6N1 Dog flu to jump species into the population. Anthony Fauci is a vile little man, with hundreds of virologists working non-stop, seeking to kiss his ring for their pieces of silver.
Don’t deadly viruses mutate to become benign over time? Why has this one been hanging around for decades and only seems to get worse? Sounds like it was designed that way. If scientists are complaining it means they don’t have funding for gain of function. Find the loud ones and hang them for crimes against humanity.
OH NOES!
Well said.
And Fauxi.
Remember when they said diseases didn’t jump species. Some of us knew that was a lie.
Could be. It could also be a tool to protect us from bio-weapons. Don't blame the tool, any more than you'd blame the gun for a murder v. a defense.
Our laws regarding such should be devised accordingly.
Here’s one...
“Felicia Goodrum, a molecular virologist at the University of Arizona, said gain-of-function research could enable health officials to recognize worrisome H5N1 mutations and identify targets for antivirals and vaccines.”
Yeah. No thanks.
I still wonder why CDC’s virologist Dr. Timothy Cunningham walked off the job and ended up drowned in the river.
They’ve known that H5N1 jumps for a long time.
“scientists and health officials fear we’re on the precipice of another global pandemic.But when, where and how that could come to pass is hard to predict — in part, some researchers say, because of guardrails the federal government has placed around gain-of-function research.”
And gain of function research poses no danger of getting loose and causing a worldwide pandemic ... except for maybe Covid-19.
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