Dutch Researcher Creates Virus That Could Wipe Out Over Half of The World's Population

[CthulhuMessiah]

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2011/11/expert_unease_over_deadly_flu.php
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2066624/Anthrax-isnt-scary-compared-Man-flu-virus-potential-wipe-millions-created-warns-frightened-scientist.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/edward-j-sylvester/dangerous-aquaintance_b_1115600.html?ref=world

Just thought you should know.

 

[cryogeist]

WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU MAKE THIS!?!

 

[Aidinthel]

Wow, a lot of bile towards the Dutch in the comments of that first link. Are the Dutch actually hated by a lot of people or is that just the internet being the internet?

OT: Ok, it says the research was to see how much it would take for an existing virus to mutate enough to kill us all. Fair enough. But I'd agree that it may not be a good idea to tell anyone else how to do it intentionally.

 

[Gustof26]

Zombies, nothing but zombies! I get that sometimes Science leads to "Well why not" sort of things but this is Sci-Fi waiting to happen.

 

[Dags90]

But if true, this virus will be sent to Virginia and will never be seen again. Too dangerous.

The title is an incorrect summary. From the information in the Huffington article, it should be "Dutch Researcher Creates Virus that Could Wipe Out Half of the World's Population...of Ferrets". A little less tragic and whole lot smellier.

I can't help but think this is just some sort of promo for the new Mission Impossible movie.

 

[theheroofaction]

Please, it's strength is obviously overestimate.

I mean, everyone remembers the "swine flu" incident, right?
Now does anybody remember what came before it.....no?

People always overestimate these things, and just because it's artificial doesn't mean it's any more effective than anything natural.

Besides, it's in a lab, and, despite what fiction tries to tell you, most scientists are actually competent.

 

[Slaanesh]

WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU MAKE THIS!?!

Apparently, its to understand the bird flu more. So they could possibly be able to react properly to a pandemic, quarantine people and develop a vaccine.

Or they worship Nurgle.

 

[Jadak]

WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU MAKE THIS!?!

If you read any of the articles, they explain that, and it's the same logic that's pretty much always used in this sort of thing.

Basically, this virus is a variation of a current virus. The current virus is quite deadly, but does not spread easily to humans. This raises concern that said virus could mutate on it's own, as is definitely possible, and become something that spreads easily to humans.

Rather than wait and see whether that happens naturally or not, and if it does, have to scramble to counter it. They developed such a thing themselves, and can now have a head start on being able to research ways to stop it without having to race against an already spreading infection.

Is it risky? Sure, but that risk is entirely limited to Hollywood doomsday scenarios involving unimaginable screwups from lab employees, or terrorist heists and such. This sort of research is nothing new, and is often considered worth this risk for the potential benefits of getting a head start on any outbreaks that might happen anyways.

There's also the fact that when something like this happens, it proves that it can be done, which means someone else could do it too. I'd prefer scientists in a dutch lab concerned with understanding and preventing outbreaks be the ones to do it first.

 

[Limecake]

I could see how it would be worth creating. After all it wasn't so long ago people were scared of H1N1 (swine flu) and speaking as someone who actually had swine flu I can tell you it's far from fatal.

if a virus like H5N1 is this deadly and the virus is actually capable of mutating into something worse, at least we'd already know about it. Seems like a pretty valid study since it might prevent such a disease from being transmitted.

I say study it, figure out what you can and then destroy it. some things just don't need to be kept forever.

 

[tthor]

Please, it's strength is obviously overestimate.

I mean, everyone remembers the "swine flu" incident, right?
Now does anybody remember what came before it.....no?

People always overestimate these things, and just because it's artificial doesn't mean it's any more effective than anything natural.

Besides, it's in a lab, and, despite what fiction tries to tell you, most scientists are actually competent.

the worry over the swine flu was not what the flu already was, but what the flu could easily mutate into.
And THIS research shows that that little swine flu could easily fuck us all over with just a few mutations

-tho this research was actually done on the bird flu rather than the swine flu, but same idea, a few mutations, and we're screwed

 

[the spud]

All I have to say (and I hope you heed this advice well) is DO NOT TELL 4CHAN.

Seriously.

Edit: Shit, I had a mental lapse, thought you meant computer virus, don't trust links. Sorry.

 

[theheroofaction]

snip

Well, I guess that makes things a smidge different.
Still, the virus is in a lab, it exists for the sole purpose of helping prepare should a similar virus appear naturally.
All in all, it's probably better that it's there, and, assuming the most likely outcome, absolutely nothing has changed.

 

[tthor]

One of those is from the Daily Mail, the UK equal to Fox News, so one source down.

Huffington is a pretty pick muckraker too.

But if true, this virus will be sent to Virginia and will never be seen again. Too dangerous.

one thing i've always wondered... why don't terrorist just attack a virus lab? Hell, even if they couldn't smuggle some of them out, just bombing the place might be enough to get a few of the viruses released into the general public

 

[Nouw]

Nurgle is pleased. *Raises banner and makes peace sign.

 

[spartan231490]

everyone calm down. There are already bacteria and viruses out there that could wipe out half the worlds population, a lot of them, some of them even occurred naturally. One more won't make much of a difference.

I would also like to point out that not publishing the paper is kind of pointless. If it's only 5 mutations, and it was accomplished by two different groups independently, than it can't be that hard to do. If someone really wants to pull it off, they won't need this paper to do it.

 

[ChaosEternal]

Yeah, if H5N1 ever naturally mutated to easily infect humans it would very quickly become a pandemic. Anyone in the US remember the scare over Swine Flu? This would be like that, except much, much worse.