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Why scientists say we are fighting H5N1 bird flu with one hand tied behind our backs
Los Angeles Times ^ | Dec. 24, 2024 3 AM PT | Susanne Rust, Karen Kaplan

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 ...


TOPICS: Humor
KEYWORDS: bioweapons; birdflu; gainoffunction; h5n1
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Create the disease and sell the cure.

Sounds like a business model.

1 posted on 12/24/2024 10:45:32 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

All they have to do is lockup Bill Gates and most of this crap will go away


2 posted on 12/24/2024 10:48:47 AM PST by butlerweave
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I guess they’re forgetting all the other outbreaks of H5N1 we’ve had, since 1996 and even before.


3 posted on 12/24/2024 10:52:27 AM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Don’t mess with dangerous “gain of function” “research”!

https://video.disney.com/watch/sorcerer-s-apprentice-fantasia-4ea9ebc01a74ea59a5867853


4 posted on 12/24/2024 11:05:17 AM PST by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
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To: butlerweave

“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.


5 posted on 12/24/2024 11:05:20 AM PST by dljordan (What would Michael Collins do?)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

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.


6 posted on 12/24/2024 11:07:17 AM PST by Da Coyote (H)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
We have no “guard rails” around such research. We just do what we already do—have Fauci pay China to make bioweapons to show what can be done when no limits exist.
7 posted on 12/24/2024 11:09:57 AM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

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.


8 posted on 12/24/2024 11:10:53 AM PST by wildcard_redneck
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To: butlerweave

Odd how the people that believe the world is over populated are also pushing vaccines for diseases that have low death rates.


9 posted on 12/24/2024 11:20:14 AM PST by Dutch Boy (The only thing worse than having something taken from you is to have it returned broken. )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

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.


10 posted on 12/24/2024 11:28:19 AM PST by blackdog ((Z28.310) Be careful what you say. Your refrigerator may be listening & reporting you.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

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.


11 posted on 12/24/2024 11:29:05 AM PST by HYPOCRACY (Democracy is dead. Long live the Republic!)
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To: null and void; aragorn; EnigmaticAnomaly; kalee; Kale; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; bgill; bitt; ...

OH NOES!


12 posted on 12/24/2024 11:29:07 AM PST by bitt (<img src=' 'width=30%>)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Well said.


13 posted on 12/24/2024 11:29:41 AM PST by arthurus (covfefe --|---|)
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To: butlerweave

And Fauxi.


14 posted on 12/24/2024 11:30:01 AM PST by bgill
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To: Jamestown1630

Remember when they said diseases didn’t jump species. Some of us knew that was a lie.


15 posted on 12/24/2024 11:31:09 AM PST by bgill
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Create the disease and sell the cure. Sounds like a business model.

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.

16 posted on 12/24/2024 11:32:36 AM PST by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: HYPOCRACY

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.


17 posted on 12/24/2024 11:35:08 AM PST by HYPOCRACY (Democracy is dead. Long live the Republic!)
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To: blackdog

I still wonder why CDC’s virologist Dr. Timothy Cunningham walked off the job and ended up drowned in the river.


18 posted on 12/24/2024 11:35:57 AM PST by bgill
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To: bgill

They’ve known that H5N1 jumps for a long time.


19 posted on 12/24/2024 11:37:31 AM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“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.


20 posted on 12/24/2024 11:37:43 AM PST by antidemoncrat ( )
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