Bird flu scientists suspend work amid epidemic fears

[CHIMO]

Scientists trying to prevent bird flu from killing millions of people have suspended their work because of fears they might accidentally cause the epidemic they hope to stop, according to a letter published on Friday in scientific journals.

Researchers from around the world signed a letter in the Nature and Science journals in which they announced a 60-day suspension to allow a public debate about the security of their work.

The letter comes after developments in the study of bird flu in which scientists have created a similar virus that can be passed between mammals.

Bird flu can only be caught by humans from birds such as chickens but it is usually lethal. Scientists fear that bird flu could mutate into a form that humans could catch from other humans. After the first world war, an influenza mutation (known as Spanish influenza) killed an estimated 40 million people.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/20/bird-flu-scientists-epidemic-fears

[Chemisse]

1. I think this was a good idea.

Now that the whole world knows what they accomplished, it would seem they could be a prime target for terrorists.