Is there a unique public health benefit of gain-of-function studies, unachievable by safer means, that outweighs their risk?
The debate over experiments that increase avian flu virus transmissibility heats up.
Saying current regulations are insufficient, a German ethics panel has asked the German government to enact legislation to regulate dual-use research of concern (DURC) and set up a national committee to review DURC proposals, according to a ScienceInsider article yesterday.
Dutch researchers say they've found five mutations that make H5N1 airborne transmissible in ferrets.
A study focusing on H7N1 avian flu viruses prompted special prepublication reviews because of "dual use" concerns.
Omission of key data from a report of a new botulinum toxin draws strong approval.
US flu activity increased only slightly last week, though markers stayed well below thresholds, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly update.
The number of respiratory samples that tested positive for flu edged up slightly, from 3.8% to 4.5%, and the percentage of clinic visits for flu remained at the 1.2% seen the previous week.
Discovery of the first new botulinum toxin in 40 years is coupled with withholding key data for security reasons.
The court upheld an export rule, but virologist Fouchier said the decision won't apply to H7N9 research.
A new assessment says that avian flu "gain of function" research poses a serious outbreak risk.