H5N1 Bird Flu Virus Research Will Be Resumed
With the initial study of the bird flu virus halted because of the possible risk the information gathered could pose if it fell into the wrong hands, it seems that scientist have convinced the right people that the benefits outweigh the risks and that the study should be restarted.
Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a Japanese virologist at the University of Tokyo that agreed upon the suspension of investigations into the bird flu virus one year ago said that research will be resumed and that the hope behind this research is to create a solution for any possible future pandemic.
The first problems with the bird flu virus research was raised about a year ago when fear that a mutated form of the virus might escape the laboratories, or even worse be used as biological weapons by terrorists led to the program being stopped.
After the twelve months of investigating the risk posed by the bird flu virus research, authorities in all the countries the research was being conducted concluded that the H5N1 bird flu virus studies posed little to no damage and that more was being lost by not continuing research than by stopping it.
With funding still absent many scientists are positive that the research can benefit the international community and that when such a goal is set, funds, no matter the economic climate can be found for the bird flu virus research.