Pause on avian flu research

A two-month moratorium on studies that make the avian influenza virus H5N1 more transmissible between mammals has been signed by 39 influenza researchers amid fear of bioterrorism.

This voluntary pause recommends that two research groups withhold key data from pending publications on H5N1. Both describe specific mutations in the virus’ genome that could allow it to be transmitted as droplets between ferrets – the standard model for mammal to mammal transmissions.

The papers contain information about methods and mutations that could help public health officials and researchers understand virus transmission and predict and prevent the next influenza pandemic. Researchers proved that viruses possessing haemagglutinin (HA) protein from highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses can become transmissible in ferrets – but more research is needed to determine how influenza viruses in nature become human pandemic threats.

However, the US government’s National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) recommend that the papers be withheld for fear that this information may make it into the hands of bioterrorists.

There is a perceived fear that ferret transmissible H5 HA viruses may escape from the lab – which has led to an intense debate in the media. The 60-day pause will allow time for international discussion on this type of research, which some say has the potential to help bioterrorists.