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The World Health Organization issued a stern warning on Fri Dec 30, 2011 to scientists who have engineered a highly pathogenic form of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, saying their work carries significant risks and must be tightly
controlled.
The World Health Organization (WHO) takes note that studies undertaken by several institutions on whether changes in the H5N1 influenza virus can make it more transmissible between humans have raised concern about the possible risks and misuses associated with this research.
The World Health Organization said it was deeply concerned about the potential negative consequences.
Two leading flu research teams said they had found ways to make H5N1 into a easily transmissable form capable of causing lethal human
pandemics.
Although H5N1 influenza viruses does not infect humans often, when it does, approximately 60% of those infected
die.
However, WHO also notes that studies conducted under appropriate conditions must continue to take place so that critical scientific knowledge needed to reduce the risks posed by the H5N1 virus continues to
increase.
See also
First Molecular Evidence Links Live Poultry Markets to Human H5N1 Infection in China (28/12/2011)
The World Health Organizatione (WHO)
(MDN)
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