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Author Topic: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab  (Read 445 times)

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Offline skyblue1

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Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« on: December 15, 2011, 06:30:23 PM »
There has been some shock and outrage among the Dutch over a not very well advertised report in DutchNews.nl about a deadly flu virus created in a Dutch lab on behalf of the National Institutes of Health in the US. Dutch citizens are asking why such experiments have been carried out on their country. DutchNews.nl has reported "Expert unease over deadly flu virus 'created' in Dutch laboratory."

The Volkskrant has reported Dutch scientists have created a flu virus which is so deadly there has been doubt about whether the research should be published. The paper has reported American experts are worried that detailed information could fall into the wrong hands and that terrorists could recreate the virus as a weapon. The fears appeared justified because the work was carried out on behalf of the National Institutes of Health in the US

The research team, which was led by Ron Fouchier, a professor of virology at Erasmus teaching hospital, created a highly infectious variant of the bird flu virus H5N1. H5N1 do not often spread from animal to human, but if it does, the infection is often fatal. Fouchier was investigating if H5N1 could lead to a pandemic and he was able to show that a couple of mutations in the virus dna changed it into an extremely virulent form. The papers says Japanese researchers have also made similar findings.

A US institute for bio-security has been asked to examine the findings by the journal Science when the research was presented for publication. That institute has told the US government the research could be threatening to public health and security. And the bottom line is with many foreigners and Americans alike seeing the U.S. government as often being involved in terrorist like activities at home and overseas over the years a good question is what is the U.S. government itself up to with this type of research


http://www.examiner.com/health-in-national/deadly-flu-virus-created-dutch-lab


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« Last Edit: December 15, 2011, 06:38:01 PM by skyblue1 »

Offline ProfessorFarnsworth

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Re: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2011, 06:43:35 PM »
Sounds scary and I'm not for one to say that on such things, considering I'm a doomsayer.

I guess the idea of having a virulent lethal flu wipe us out is not the best way to go.

Hope they incinerated and sterilised that room afterwards as all it would take is one cell to escape...
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Morality can be extrapolated from these meanings to make these two commandments of godless morality: 1). Be in harmony with one another and 2). Care for the environment.

Offline Parts

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Re: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2011, 07:45:05 PM »
"Eat it up.  Wear it out.  Make it do or do without." 

'People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.'
George Bernard Shaw

Offline Callaway

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Re: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2011, 08:42:39 PM »
That is scary.

I'm sure that they used biohazard precautions in the laboratory, but if the work about which mutations they made in the DNA of the influenza virus is published, other scientists could replicate it and cause a pandemic.

I hope that the research helps them develop a vaccine against their virulent mutated bird flu before they publish the exact mutations they made.

Offline skyblue1

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Re: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2011, 09:11:50 PM »
"This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang but a whimper" (T.S. Elliot).

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Re: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2011, 09:47:33 PM »
One more reason to hate the Dutch!!!  :arrr:

Offline skyblue1

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Re: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2011, 10:18:18 PM »
 :LMAO:

Offline odeon

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Re: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« Reply #7 on: December 16, 2011, 12:29:29 AM »
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

- Albert Einstein

Offline 'andersom'

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Re: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« Reply #8 on: December 16, 2011, 02:11:25 AM »
Of course, they are now going to work on a  vaccine hard..... Someone has to make money out of this.

Osterhaus, one of the researchers, got a lot of flak for having half of the Dutch population here vaccinated for swine-flu. He played the fear cards well.

Some say critics of him are already sharpening their pencils.




It is scary, can't see it being used as a terrorist weapon though, enhanced bird-flu cannot be used selective. And does take a lot more effort to obtain it than anthrax.
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Offline Calavera

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Re: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« Reply #9 on: December 16, 2011, 06:29:46 AM »
Is this multiply attested independently? Can we trust the report of Volkskrant?

This sounds like just another annoying conspiracy theory.

Offline 'andersom'

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Re: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« Reply #10 on: December 16, 2011, 06:43:27 AM »
Is this multiply attested independently? Can we trust the report of Volkskrant?

This sounds like just another annoying conspiracy theory.

The Volkskrant is one of the better papers.

And, it is covered by other media too.
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Offline renaeden

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Re: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« Reply #11 on: December 16, 2011, 06:45:18 AM »
I am just wondering why? I am sure there is better research for these scientists to be doing other than creating a virus that could kill many people. Probably spending lots of money doing it, too. How about cures for some diseases instead?
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Offline 'andersom'

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Re: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« Reply #12 on: December 16, 2011, 06:52:13 AM »
I am just wondering why? I am sure there is better research for these scientists to be doing other than creating a virus that could kill many people. Probably spending lots of money doing it, too. How about cures for some diseases instead?

They were exploring if there really can be a threat of this type of birdflu becoming a pandemic. Till now it never happened, they only needed a few mutations, that could happen outside a laboratory too, to get it to be a lethal virus with pandemic possibilities.

So, the way I understood it, it was research done to estimate the danger, and, they are not that happy with the outcome.
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Offline renaeden

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Re: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« Reply #13 on: December 16, 2011, 07:09:12 AM »
I am just wondering why? I am sure there is better research for these scientists to be doing other than creating a virus that could kill many people. Probably spending lots of money doing it, too. How about cures for some diseases instead?
They were exploring if there really can be a threat of this type of birdflu becoming a pandemic. Till now it never happened, they only needed a few mutations, that could happen outside a laboratory too, to get it to be a lethal virus with pandemic possibilities.

So, the way I understood it, it was research done to estimate the danger, and, they are not that happy with the outcome.
Oh I see. Feel a bit stupid now, heh. :autism:
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Offline Calavera

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Re: Deadly flu virus created in Dutch lab
« Reply #14 on: December 16, 2011, 07:24:13 AM »
Makes sense.