Washington, 28 mar ( EFE).-A Committee of experts in the United States.UU. Today recommended the publication of two studies on variants of the influenza viruses avian (or H5N1) will spread among mammals, after having advised in December not to disclose them for fear that they were used to develop a bioweapon.
“the data described in the revised manuscripts seem not to provide information that would immediately allow the misuse of research in a way that could endanger public health or national security”, explained in a statement the National Advisory Council of biosecurity in the United States.UU. (NSABB, for its acronym in English).
The same Council had recommended in December that studies, ready to be published by the magazine “Nature” and “Science”, were not disclosed for fear that the details were used to develop a biological weapon terrorist purposes by States or armed organizations.
After this recommendation, United States authorities stopped the publication, prompting complaints from the scientific community and the magazines, that pan called the extent of censorship.
Studies, carried out by scientists from the universities Erasmus of Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and Wisconsin (EE.)(UU.), collect findings in laboratory on mutations genetic of the H5N1 virus can spread between mammals and, therefore, human.
One of the main objectives of these studies was to obtain the information necessary to prevent a possible pandemic caused by this variant and create a vaccine to protect new strains.
Usually the H5N1 virus is transmitted between poultry and its transmission to humans occurs rarely, so the transmission between people could be highly lethal, according to experts.
According to the World Health Organization (who), the influenza viruses avian rarely infects people and when you do has a mortality rate of 60%.
Global experts convened by who last February agreed to defend a deferment of publication of studies to be able to better calibrate the impact of dissemination of their findings.
After reviewing investigations between Thursday and today, experts from the American NSABB argued “unanimously” by the publication of the study from the University of Wisconsin, according to the statement.
As regards the conducted in the Netherlands, 12 members of the NSABB, spoke in favor of disclosure and 6 against.
According to the NSABB, “understanding of specific mutations can improve international surveillance and public health and safety.”.
The new recommendations of this body will be now sent to the U.S. Government for its review and consideration. EFE
