Scientists deliberately recreate flu virus that killed 50 million

American scientists said that their research was necessary in developing influenza vaccines to minimise risks of a future flu pandemic

12:52 12 June 2014

American scientists have deliberately recreated the controversial 1981 virus, which was responsible for the Spanish flu pandemic that killed about 50 million people more than 90 years ago. The scientists infected laboratory ferrets to show how easy it can be transmitted in the best animal model of the human disease. 

 

However, the research was criticised by other researchers saying that it was foolhardy and dangerous. Critics believe that the research will do more harm than good if the genetically engineered virus were to escape either deliberately or accidentally from the laboratory. 

 

However, Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said that his research is necessary for the development of vaccines. 

 

“These critics fail to appreciate the precautions and safeguards built into our work, the regulation, review and oversight these studies receive. The risks of conducting this research are not ignored, but they can be effectively managed and mitigated.”

 

“We know studies like ours advance the field and help those responsible for making decisions about surveillance and pandemic preparedness [to] base decisions on scientific fact, rather than conjecture. Therefore our research provides important benefits that cannot be achieved by other means,” he said in an email to The Independent.