I understand the need to research virii, how they work, and how they can be stopped, but stuff like this just fucking scares me. I've seen enough movies, read books, and read REAL REPORTS of accidental contamination to think that anything like this could end well.

A moratorium was put in place to halt all research on this new deadly strain of Avian Flu. There were too many questions and the possibility of an outbreak was real. We're talking about an airborne pathogen that literally could kill at least HALF THE WORLD'S POPULATION. That moratorium has been removed in a few countries just recently (EU, Canada, China and a few others)

"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." - Paul Keim, Microbial geneticist

So why is it so scary? Let's take the case of Ron Fouchier, a virologist who was working with the H5N1 virus to see how virulent it could become and evole to. Instead of letting nature just take its course, virologists like Fouchier tend to prod it in certain directions to see what happens. As his research shows these directions can be very, very bad.

"In his Netherlands laboratory, virologist Ron Fouchier was experimenting with the avian flu virus to see how it could become even more virulent. (Red flag.) His research involved spreading it throughout a population of ferrets, and he noticed that as the virus reproduced, it adapted to spread even faster. (RED FLAG.) Not worried about ferret flu? Previous research has shown that any strains of influenza that can pass between ferrets can also pass between humans. (RED FLAAAAAAAAAG.) Ten generations later, his efforts had created an airborne strain with the power could kill half the human population. (RED FUCKING FLAG, DUDE!)" - Kristin Philipkoski, Gizmodo writer

Seriously? I don't see how anything good can really come of this by creating these "super bugs".

yeah... i feel like this should be given the go ahead by every country in the world before some one takes it that far. if it only kills your country and your country is ok with that risk then by all means go for it. but half the world? i feel like everyone should have to be on board for that. figuring out how to make it more deadly only has one implication, and that is to cause more death and destruction. but i cant really say that i am surprised that some one is trying to advance it

They can't cure the common flu, why bother with an advanced one?

Have to agree that this shit is just plain scary. I say it all needs to be destroyed. Especially any research that makes it stronger and more dangerous.

Population control. It'll start in China

To be fair, they've been doing this kind of testing (mostly underground, and unpublicized) all the time. We've had multiple airborne diseases that have had the capability to wipe out a good chunk of Earth's population, but they've either found a solution for it, or put a stamp on it and went "NOPE". 

 

Avian flu is pretty serious, due to the fact that disease spreads easily from dead birds. You have a kid who picks up a dead crow in a street or pokes a dead sparrow then plays with it, or anything along those lines, and they can potentially contract a disease. If for any reason it mutates in that one person (which is entirely possible, humans are fantastic incubators for new strains of this crap) then we have a walking plaguebomb who just wanted to play outside.

 

We have people tinkering with bombs and weapons all the time that could annihilate people on a regular basis. While this could potentially kill people, yes, they already know what the strain is, and can basically go "WELL. Here you go world, this is what we're fucking with" and begin preventative measures. 

 

The real concern isn't them CREATING the virus. The concern is them publishing it. Yes, it can protect us against an outbreak, but then the ability for bioterrorists to recreate the virus is right there. 

IMO, until a solution is close to being found, I wouldn't release the information.

 

If all else fails, move to Madagascar. 

I also think in this current age, that we as humans, have a diminished immune system. We surround ourselves with hermetically sealed this, and Clorox wiped that (I'm super guilty). Our ancestors didn't even have access to a clean bath on a regular basis, and they survived just great.

 

I think we'll continue this trend until our bodies are no longer able to fight anything on its own. We'll be wearing onesies that constantly spritz our entire bodies in antiseptic.

 

lol

Speak for yourself. I have the immune system of a rock.

A HARD TO BREAK ROCK.

I"m like a mountain.

I'm down for antiseptic onesies as long as it's lemon-scented.

Yup, totally no reason to panic. 

 

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57576037/vial-of-deadly-virus-goes-missing-from-texas-lab/

And this is how the shit on Isla Nublar started.

Captain Tripps is knocking at the door.

It isn't deadly to humans via US rats, so at least we're safe! *WILL NEVER MOVE AGAIN*

As long as im not on vacation im safe....i take a week off i catch the black plague