After epic debate, avian flu research sees light of day ⇢

infoneer-pulse:

After a marathon debate over a pair of studies that show how the avian H5N1 influenza virus could become transmissible in mammals, and an unprecedented recommendation by a government review panel to block publication, one of the studies was finally and fully published today (May 3, 2012) in the journal Nature.

Publication caps an epic public conversation that pitted some infectious diseases experts against flu and public health researchers who argued that publication was not only important, but also essential to informing influenza surveillance and preparedness for a virus that could evolve to infect humans and cause a global pandemic.

» via University of Wisconsin

This is really an interesting discussion because it is a confirmation that there is still a strong belief that openness is better than the alternative. But for how long? Will there soon be a future when the majority of these discussions end differently and giving access to knowledge is generally being considered dangerous, as it once were? We can just imagine what will happen if somebody, somewhere is using the information in a way which will cause a new 9/11 or worse… Are we just living in a short period of open utopia?

3 May 6 infoneer-pulse

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   This is really an interesting discussion because it is a confirmation that there is still a strong belief that openness...

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