mutation of avian flu that turns deadly would be a disaster without a vaccine

This might provide a chance to get ahead of it.

The major problem is it needs to be tightly controlled and secured

The only think the country controls is protestors the rest is pretty much a free for all.

around that idea. It was NOT a good thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReGenesis

Though I was reminded about this...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0663234/

Rampant, unbeatable pandemic makes for good TV, unfortunately.

ReGenesis is on Hulu Plus is you're into that sort of drama. It was actually a really interesting show; they used a scientific consultant who had a lot of input into the direction the show took and kept it pretty honest (the exception being a kind of lame ending, but I think that was because they didn't know what to do with it to wrap it up). It was really strange in one of the later seasons (I watched it just a while back) that something they were discussing as cutting edge/never been done/impossible had just made the news the week I was watching, as a breakthrough. Weird sense of deju what?! from that one!

...this should have been under much more tightly-controlled fail-conditions like a CDC lab. Irresponsible and arrogant much?

controlled.

My grandmother almost died from this as a child.

n/t

Thats a pretty poor way to manage someone that could kill millions.

http://www.uwalumni.com/media/images/photography/onwisconsin/pdf/FlightLessons.pdf

but if they don't do it, someone else who may have nefarious intentions will. If we have good science and it's well guarded in reasonable testable amounts, it could save an untold number of lives when the bad guys get around to it. And they will. You think viral experimentation isn't already in the works in many different forms? I have little doubt.

chemical and biological weapons. It's an excuse for going places we shouldn't.

If we learned anything from the 2001 anthrax attacks it's that the use of these weapons is largely unattributable and will happen. All it takes is one disgruntled worker.

Remember though, there are many people within this country, and outside it that would be fond of killing as many people as possible. If we have a source that can be made quickly into an antiviral then we would be one or two steps ahead. If we have to start without a source, it could cost hundreds, thousands or more lives, then distribution would be lagging... All of it is a sad but real probability.

One disgruntled worker... trust in human frailties will always be a problem. I have no solution for that one which doesn't include a thousand generations in the future.

... but I doubt that is what you were meaning ...

they should make a room at the bottom of the world's deepest drill hole. Lock them in with enough air and supplies for 50 years. Fill hole entryway. Make it impossible for anyone or anything to get in or out. No communications. Take a poll after fifty years to see if anyone is interested if anyone is there. If not over 90% interest, take another poll in 50 years.

why not.