Geneva, 16 feb (EFE).-the World Health Organization (who) meeting today in Geneva to scientists who will analyse the recent studies on the flu virus avian (H5N1) and discuss if it is necessary or desirable to publish them, given the possible danger that are used for non-research purposes.
At the meeting, which will last two days, involved two dozen scientists from Australia, United States, France, Great Britain and Holland, and Asian countries such as China, Indonesia, Japan and Viet Nam, affected especially by this virus.
In mid-December of last year knew that 38 scientists from universities, Erasmus of Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and Wisconsin (United States), led by Dutch virologist Ron Fouchier, had discovered five genetic mutations that the H5N1 virus can suffer for his infection among persons.
The objective of the Dutch study, which has been funded by the National Institute of American health care, sought to get the information necessary to prevent a possible pandemic caused by this variant of flu.
To do so, were trying to create the vaccine that would protect against new strains.
Scientists were about to publish their results in the journals Nature and Science, but were pressured to do so by the health authorities of United States, who feared that, if publicly sharing this knowledge, they could eventually be used by terrorists to create a bioweapon.
Usually the H5N1 virus is transmitted between poultry and its transmission to humans occurs rarely, so the transmission between people could be highly lethal.
In fact, everytime it refers to H5N1, who recalls that the virus is potentially very dangerous because although usually not contaminated people, when he does, he kills 60% of those infected.
After the controversy, on 30 December who warned of the potential risk of doing research on influenza virus if not apply high standards and recommendations adopted by this body, and more than 20 days later, decided to convene the meeting that began today.
While the scientists not only have not published the results, that were imposed a moratorium on 60 days, in which will not continue with investigations, waiting for the scientific community to agree on how to proceed in the future. EFE
