I wonder who they test this stuff on?

Well then...

WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE

Seriously though, this is pretty dangerous...and while it is important for scientists to be ahead of the curve in understanding this stuff, it is pretty stupid to be resuming something which has the potential to get out of hand, and will most probably do so if one worker forgets safety standards.

"Because H5N1 virus transmission studies are essential for pandemic preparedness and understanding the adaptation of influenza viruses to mammals, researchers who have approval from their governments and institutions to conduct this research safely..."

The scary part to me is this applies to any preparation. So is this standard procedure?...to intentionally mutate virus's for mammalian transmission? O.o

Scary stuff...but don't you have to have a live virus in order to actually find a cure? A computer model wouldn't cut it as it would remain theoretical.

I hope nothing like “The Stand” takes place.

I bet the minimum wage workers at the lab are looking for new jobs today. McDonald's might even be preferable. And the security at this site better be more than your local cop-wannabe duffus in a real-mans uniform.

To add my two cents...I've felt for a long time there is only one truly SAFE place on Earth to study and work with this material and that's Antarctica. It's the only place on our planet where there is 100% certainty that NOTHING escaping the lab can survive to reach the outside world. 100% certain. Not 99.9999% based on man made systems of containment that "can't" fail.....but nature creating an environment for as far as anyone could ever want or ask that simply cannot support even bacterial life in the open air.

It would be enormously inconvenient to the scientists working with the most dangerous nightmares man has ever seen or thought up...but I really don't care what is handy or helpful to them, if that means securing their work 100% certain.

I wouldn't even risk the coastline. There is maritime life and, in some areas, penguins. They did nothing to become vectors of doom. I'd pick a site as deep into the interior as possible for a stable region in terms of geology. As stable as AA ever gets, anyway. THEN...added to that, an intermediate way-station all humans must go through in leaving the labs for a mandatory quarantine and observation period at an entirely new location between the lab and McMurdo.

Problem solved.... Now they can work on anything they like to their heart's content ..and the only lives lost when they screw it up will be their own.

Ideologically, everything should be experimented on and understood as much as possible, all the time.

Realistically, if you have to say "trust me, I know what I'm doing" to the scientific community, you probably don't know what you're doing.

I'd say yes, do the research, but don't let anyone do it unless there is a major positive consensus among the community regarding the institution's capabilities.

As much as the thought of this "accidentally" getting out is pretty scary, I think it would be interesting to be personally involved in the process of experimenting with the virus.... it's risky though, does the prospect of a cure outweigh the risk of a large number of us being wiped out? Oddly I'm not entirely sure of the answer myself, however I understand peoples fairly quick and justified answer; no it's not worth it. Will there be financial gain if a cure is found and is that the main reason for taking these risks? Of course but that's how the world works, altruism is pretty much impossible to find.

Highest security or not all it takes is one microscopic tear, or puncture of their hazmat suites for the material to leave the lab. One cell getting through to a trained, licensed lab technician/scientist is all it takes for this brand new strain of virus to go from their "perfect lab" to the outside world. Human error always remains the number one problem in these types of situations, always. The most secure systems in the world are always jeopardized by the people that use them, more than a flaw with in the system.

Originally posted by SiliconLifeForm
As much as the thought of this "accidentally" getting out is pretty scary, I think it would be interesting to be personally involved in the process of experimenting with the virus.... it's risky though, does the prospect of a cure outweigh the risk of a large number of us being wiped out? Oddly I'm not entirely sure of the answer myself, however I understand peoples fairly quick and justified answer; no it's not worth it. Will there be financial gain if a cure is found and is that the main reason for taking these risks? Of course but that's how the world works, altruism is pretty much impossible to find.

If a cure is found? There has never ever been any cure found for the flu. Ever. What cure?

Originally posted by thebtheb

Originally posted by SiliconLifeForm
As much as the thought of this "accidentally" getting out is pretty scary, I think it would be interesting to be personally involved in the process of experimenting with the virus.... it's risky though, does the prospect of a cure outweigh the risk of a large number of us being wiped out? Oddly I'm not entirely sure of the answer myself, however I understand peoples fairly quick and justified answer; no it's not worth it. Will there be financial gain if a cure is found and is that the main reason for taking these risks? Of course but that's how the world works, altruism is pretty much impossible to find.

If a cure is found? There has never ever been any cure found for the flu. Ever. What cure?

You make a good point and that's another thing to put into consideration however you will never know if there's a cure or not if you don't look for one. But maybe your right there's a good chance a cure will never be discovered.