The Potential Weaponization of Bird Flu

[Oneironaut Zero]

WHO deeply concerned by mutated birdflu research | Reuters What do you guys think about this? I'm sure that, on a smaller scale, such a thing could be somewhat easily contained, but if this kind of researched is published in full, what do you think the consequences could be, realistically?

[Spartiate]

Less scary than smallpox, nerve gas, nukes and all the other weapons of mass destruction that everybody already has.

[Xei]

Less scary than smallpox, nerve gas.... I'm sure that, on a smaller scale, such a thing could be somewhat easily contained Why?

[Spartiate]

Why? Proven effectiveness and availability.

[Supernova]

I'm curious to know why this research was conducted in the first place. At any rate, this cannot be treated like any old scientific paper; this information needs to be very carefully controlled.

[Xei]

Because they can now estimate how many of these human-human transmittable viruses actually exist in the bird population. I can't remember how many it was but there are quite a few... the barrier that prevents an outbreak is just chance.

[Oneironaut Zero]

Why? Just kind of being optimistic, really. I mean - as far as keeping the virus in a facility where it can be studied, I place a bit of trust in their confidence in being able to keep it contained within the facility. I know that there is plenty more dangerous stuff that we have stored away or being experimented on, so there's got to be some kind of capability to keep viruses under wraps. Can't say that I'm particularly aware of any cases where a virus got out of a scientific/governmental facility. Does anyone else? [Edit:] Actually, excuse me. While I was gone, I realized that I'm actually mixing two different issues, in the above. I'm also thinking about when scientists had mapped out the genome for the 'Black Death', and there was talk about them trying to resurrect it. This issue is less about the virus being held in a lab, as it is about the details of the research getting into the wrong hands. Disregard the above.^

[greenhavoc]

does anthrax count edit: oops, that's not a virus

[Xei]

Just kind of being optimistic, really. I mean - as far as keeping the virus in a facility where it can be studied, I place a bit of trust in their confidence in being able to keep it contained within the facility. I know that there is plenty more dangerous stuff that we have stored away or being experimented on, so there's got to be some kind of capability to keep viruses under wraps. Can't say that I'm particularly aware of any cases where a virus got out of a scientific/governmental facility. Does anyone else? Oh I see, I thought you meant in a generic population. But of course that is the main worry: release into the general population either through nature or warfare, in which case it's potentially devastating. I'm not aware of any such instances but I imagine an unintentional release is plausible from an unadvanced country. I think there's still a tiny number of smallpox virus samples stored somewhere.

[Oneironaut Zero]

Oh I see, I thought you meant in a generic population. But of course that is the main worry: release into the general population either through nature or warfare, in which case it's potentially devastating. I'm not aware of any such instances but I imagine an unintentional release is plausible from an unadvanced country. I think there's still a tiny number of smallpox virus samples stored somewhere. I agree with that. Though I try to remain optimistic, the truth is that I have no idea how probable (however possible) such an accidential release would be. What do you think, overall? Do you advocate such re-mapping and ressurrecting of viruses for general scientific interests? Or do you think it's better to let some things die, if they're headed in that direction?

[DeeryTheDeer]

I thought the bird flu scare was so 2006. Followed by the pig flu. Then there will be a new flu or virus to be scared of.

[Xei]

The black death may have killed about half of the population of Europe. Ridicule scientists for being extremely cautious about these things all you want, it only demonstrates the delusional bubble of control that society has given you.

[Original Poster]

I just hope they can stop the Z Virus in time. Xei- I feel like there's a difference between taking a virus seriously as a researcher and pandering to the media's addiction to the next pandemic.