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CDC May Distribute 1918 Killer Flu

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NVMojo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 01:23 PM
Original message
CDC May Distribute 1918 Killer Flu
ATLANTA (AP) - Federal scientists say they will consider requests to ship the recently recreated 1918 killer flu virus to select U.S. research labs.

There are 300 non-government research labs registered to work with deadly germs like the Spanish flu, which killed millions of people worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will consider requests for samples from those labs "on a case-by-case basis," CDC spokesman Von Roebuck said Wednesday.

Dangerous biological agents are routinely shipped through commercial carriers like FedEx or DHL, following government packaging, safety and security guidelines.

more...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2005/nov/09/110906851.html
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SmokingJacket Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 01:28 PM
Response to Original message
1. Quite a dilemma: if you don't send it out, you might prevent
a researcher from developing a vaccine or other breakthrough.

If you DO send it out, who knows whose hands it could fall into.
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NVMojo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 01:33 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. ...a neocon might get their hand on it to use for population control ...
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hogwyld Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 04:02 PM
Response to Reply #2
8. We're overdue
For a major pandemic. It is one of the mechanisms nature uses to control populations. In a sad way, it is good for the earth in that there are less people to support, and less users of resources. Sounds harsh, but nature has the say in this one, no us.
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obxhead Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 05:19 PM
Response to Reply #2
14. How does that fit in with "abstinence only" teachings.
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Spinzonner Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 01:36 PM
Response to Original message
3. Yes, we really don't have enough killer flus floating around
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Endangered Specie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 01:46 PM
Response to Original message
4. They had better keep a big fucking tight lid on this...
we all know that the governments (and especially the private sectorss) track record on deadly substances. If they even suspect that one germ has left the lab they had better quarantine the whole building, and everyone in it.

I'm thinking, one red button and the whole joint is sealed off from the rest of the world type stuff.
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Coastie for Truth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 01:52 PM
Response to Original message
5. I see nothing wrong --
1. We have polio and small pox viruses and bubonic plague and botulism bacteria out there in labs around the world.

2. If you don't have the virus -- how can you develop the vaccine?

3. If you don't have the virus -- how can you develop the "enzyme synthesis" processes for the vaccine?

If interested (and I am not demeaning this book because of the glib cover picture of Bush - very well written) - try David Clark and Lonnie Russell, "Molecular Biology Made Simple and Fun" -- especially Chapter 19 (which is one of the best and most readable descriptions of viruses, virology, immunology, etc. I have ever seen --- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - FIVE STARS)

<>
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Delphinus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 02:01 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. OK, Coastie.
I just placed on hold on the book from the library. I am not at all a science person, not at all a mathematics person either, so I really, really hope it's written in plain speak.
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buzzard Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 03:38 PM
Response to Original message
7. I would stipulate that someone travels with the virus and hands it off.n/t
Edited on Wed Nov-09-05 03:38 PM by buzzard
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CreekDog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 04:06 PM
Response to Reply #7
9. Oh, I thought they were distributing to Blue States
First come first served.
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Loonman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 04:14 PM
Response to Original message
10. Knock off the tinfoil hat bullshit (not you, threadstarter)
Research labs do this all the time. Like with polio and other deadly diseases. It's the only way to deal with them by trying to learn as much as possible.
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Coastie for Truth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 04:24 PM
Response to Reply #10
11. Expect more tinfoil hat appends from states where
they teach intelligent design as "science."
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Mojorabbit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 05:11 PM
Response to Reply #10
12. I also think it should be handed off
After all England misplaced Romania's bird flu samples that had been sent there for testing. It was lost for two days at the airport.
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obxhead Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-09-05 05:17 PM
Response to Original message
13. Shouldn't we have special deliveries of this kind of thing.
If it is so important to have something like this delivered somewhere, why don't they have special couriers with specialized training handle them.

Maybe we should just contract JB Hunt to carry our nuclear waste.

I've worked in the shipping industry and will say that the above mentioned carriers can not and will not assume any responsibility for mistakes made by their employees.
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