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Fears bird flu study could inspire bio-terrorists
27 January 2012
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A Japanese researcher partly-based in the United States has been forced to suspend his studies into an airborne version on the H5N1 bird flu virus over concerns that his findings could be used by bioterrorists.
Yoshihiro Kawaoka from Tokyo University and the University of Wisconsin Madison says his work is essential to preventing futher pandemics.
However, the US Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity has asked two leading journals, Science and Nature, to withold certain, more sensitive details of the study.
The issue has divided experts in the field.
Reporter: Helene Hofman
Speakers: Malik Peiris, Professor in Virology at the University of Hong Kong; Chan Wha Kim, President of the Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association and Professor of Biotechnology at Korea University; Professor Robert Booy, Head of Clinical Research at the National Centre for Immunisation Research in Australia
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