US government orders scientific journals to censor findings of deadly H5N1 bird flu experiment

US government orders scientific journals to censor findings of deadly H5N1 bird flu experiment










(NaturalNews) After toying with the idea of blocking public access to
critical information discovered as part of an experiment with H5N1 avian
flu, the US government has now decided that certain details of this
controversial research be withdrawn from two scientific journals. The
UK's Guardian reports that the journals Science and Nature are working to remove certain details from the research that terrorists may try to use to create biological weapons.

The controversy stems from research conducted by Dr. Ron Fouchier from
Erasmus Medical Centre in the Netherlands, who deliberately created a
deadly strain of H5N1 that is capable of spreading among mammals,
including humans. NaturalNews reported on this intentional
"militarization" of H5N1 last month, when the government was still
considering what to do with the new-found information (http://www.naturalnews.com/034228_bioterrorism_flu_strain.html).

According to Science Insider, Dr. Fouchier told reporters that
he and his team's deliberate mutation of H5N1 had created "probably one
of the most dangerous viruses you can make." US National Science
Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) chair Paul Keim added, "I can't
think of another pathogenic organism that is as scary as this one. I
don't think anthrax is scary at all compared to this."

The only problem with the government deciding to pull this sensitive
information now, though, is that it has already been made public at
recent conferences where the findings were discussed. In other words,
the government is trying to "[shut] the stable doors after the horse
has bolted," to quote the words of former chief virologist of the UK's
National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, John Wood.

Both journals are reportedly working on publishing edited versions of
the papers that do not contain details about how the experiments were
conducted, or about how the team was able to develop the highly-deadly
strain. Some researchers, however, would still be able to access the
original papers in their complete form, according to reports.

"The proposed reactions are nothing more than a public relations
measure, a window dressing, intended to convey the impression that the
issue is being addressed to minimize negative public reaction and
deflect calls for effective regulation," said Richard Ebright, a
professor of molecular biology at Rutgers University.




Source:-
http://www.naturalnews.com/034490_bird_flu_experiments_censored.html