The Great Debate : As a biological weapon, H5N1 is for the birds

Via Reuters, an opinion piece by Peter Christian Hall who has also wrote a book titled American Fever : A Tale of Romance & Pestilence, you can find the link to book's site on my side bar. Excerpt from the Reuters article :

" Amid the furor over the U.S. government’s move to restrict publication of vital research into H5N1 avian flu, no one seems to be challenging a key assumption—that H5N1 could make a useful weapon. It wouldn’t.

The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity recently pressured Science and Nature not to fully publish two widely discussed papers detailing separate efforts to devise an H5N1 avian flu strain that transmits easily in ferrets and might do so among human beings. The proposed solution is to issue redacted versions and circulate details only to approved institutions.

This unprecedented interference in the field of biology could hinder research and hamper responsiveness in distant lands plagued by H5N1. If institutions there don’t know what gene changes to watch for, how quickly will we know if H5N1 replicates a pandemic combination defined by researchers on three continents?

There’s little question that this fearsome virus could wreak catastrophic harm if it learns how to circulate readily among humans. Through last week, when H5N1 killed a man near Hong Kong (site of the first official outbreak, in 1997), it has slain 60 percent of about 600 people certified as having been infected with it. Predictions of the global toll if H5N1 should turn pandemic reach as high as a billion people.

So why wouldn’t a desperate outlaw state—or terrorists—want to weaponize the most dreaded flu strain scientists have ever found?

Because H5N1 would make a wretched weapon."

American Fever: A Tale of Romance & Pestilence

Today I've received an email from Peter Christian Hall with a note about his new book titled "American Fever: A Tale of Romance & Pestilence". Instead of posting my normal news updates I spent the last 2 hours reading the synopsis and journal of his book and honestly reading it just blew my mind. His words, his style of writing simply amazes me. Here's an excerpt from the synopsis :

" A young libertarian flu fighter huddles at home in New York’s East Village, blogging about a devastating avian flu pandemic as he sells masks, gloves, and goggles over the Internet. An intriguing, vexing woman stalks him while he delves into the mysteries of influenza and serves up colorful commentary on the chaos swirling around—and within—his world."

So please dont waste any time, go to his website, read the synopsis and get a copy of his book. I've also included a picture and link to his site on my side bar.

Enjoy!