Discussion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4439053.stm
Do you think any of the counries involved might just keep a little of it? Probably all of them!
Do you think any of the counries involved might just keep a little of it? Probably all of them!
And of course who else has samples of Marburg, or other similar nasties that crawl out of the african bush on occasion?
At the end of the day, when Polio can be created in a lab from scratch, then simply knowing the makeup of one of these beasties is sufficient, let alone having a sample.
At the end of the day, when Polio can be created in a lab from scratch, then simply knowing the makeup of one of these beasties is sufficient, let alone having a sample.
Another accurate, well researched science story hits the headline 
Its a level 2 pathogen which puts it at a similar risk to enterotoxigenic E.Coli, Salmonella, listeria etc. Its potentially dangerous to those who work with it but not seen as a risk to the wider community.
An over reaction by the authorities and another opportunity for the media to bang on about bioterrorism. We deal with more dangerous organisms than this in the lab I'm sat in right now (tetanus toxin
)!
As far as small pox goes there are only two labs (one in america and one in Russia) that still have stocks. Up until the late 70s there were stocks in this country at Birmingham Uni but after a limited outbreak they were destroyed.
Its a level 2 pathogen which puts it at a similar risk to enterotoxigenic E.Coli, Salmonella, listeria etc. Its potentially dangerous to those who work with it but not seen as a risk to the wider community.
An over reaction by the authorities and another opportunity for the media to bang on about bioterrorism. We deal with more dangerous organisms than this in the lab I'm sat in right now (tetanus toxin
)! As far as small pox goes there are only two labs (one in america and one in Russia) that still have stocks. Up until the late 70s there were stocks in this country at Birmingham Uni but after a limited outbreak they were destroyed.
MilnerR said:
Another accurate, well researched science story hits the headline
Its a level 2 pathogen which puts it at a similar risk to enterotoxigenic E.Coli, Salmonella, listeria etc. Its potentially dangerous to those who work with it but not seen as a risk to the wider community.
I agree with your main point. But this particular strain caused a pandemic in the 1950s, no? And people travel about much more than they used to.
I see the story says they were considering reclassifying it, MilnerR, though I take your point.
Question: if current strains are generally used, how did this one a)get in and b)not get caught in any sort of check? (before the kits were distributed, I mean).
>> Edited by caro on Wednesday 13th April 15:57
Question: if current strains are generally used, how did this one a)get in and b)not get caught in any sort of check? (before the kits were distributed, I mean).
>> Edited by caro on Wednesday 13th April 15:57
The influenza virus is always going to be difficult to classify. This particular strain is dangerous because it hasn't caused a major outbreak since the late 50s and so there aren't many people who have antibodies against it. Then again the ability of the virus to undergo antigenic drift through recombination of virus RNA means that nobody is alive today that has antibodies against next years strain or the year after etc. The real risk to a healthy adult is negligible and the chances of this virus getting into the community and causing loss of life any greater than the current strain does (aprox 4000 per year in the UK) is equally unlikely.
The samples were sent out in error and when this error was spotted the labs were asked to destroy them (happens occasionally). Sounds very dramatic, until you think that the virus samples could have been rendered harmless by leaving them at room temperature for an hour
You're many more times at risk leaving your seat belt undone.
The samples were sent out in error and when this error was spotted the labs were asked to destroy them (happens occasionally). Sounds very dramatic, until you think that the virus samples could have been rendered harmless by leaving them at room temperature for an hour
You're many more times at risk leaving your seat belt undone.
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