topic Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted? in Community Chat

Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

cherry — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 11:09:27 GMT

It is going to be ,and we are assured that it will be safe. Famous last words.

I don't know enough about this type of research to find any comfort in this at all. I remember the huge anthrax scare

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/health/lethal-viruses-nih.html

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

violann — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 11:12:58 GMT

Pandora’s Box.

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

151949 — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 13:34:38 GMT

Why on Earth would anyone think this is a good idea?!?!

Just another reason I'm glad I'm old - the world is getting to be too much for me.

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

Marp — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 13:41:03 GMT

I think this is a damned if we do, damned if we don't situation. It would be beyond naive to deny others are doing similar research.

Doing our own research could be helpful if only by providing an understanding of how the pathogens were manipulated so a vaccine or other means of combating the created pathogens could be (relatively) quickly developed.

On the other hand the the risks are tremendous and there is little that can be done to be totally protective. Everything from escape of the pathogens, infiltration of researchers by a foreign entity, even a mentally unstable researcher has to be considered.

The human factor is both the greatest risk and the greatest safety component of this type of research.

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

SilleeMee — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 13:45:18 GMT

Absolutely NO. Who would benefit from this being kept in place and allowed to go forth??

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

Laura14 — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 13:53:07 GMT

I agree with @Marp. You need the research but WOW do you need to be beyond careful with how it's done.

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

chrystaltree — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 14:47:32 GMT

Why wait for nature to create a pandemic when we can do it ourselves?

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

Moonchilde — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 20:14:32 GMT

A N Y T H I N G can be stolen, period.

I’d rather there were a few things our govts have done in the past and will continue to do in the future that we don’t know about. Full disclosure is not always, in every instance about everything, a good idea.

Look how we say “we’re comin’ to getcha. We’re comin’ on Tuesday (it’s Monday afternoon now, heads up). We’re comin’ in an hour. Hey, it’s us, we’re here!” with military operations.

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

puttypiesmom — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 21:46:10 GMT

The article mentions fear that an airborne type of ebola could be created but there is something like that already, it's called the Marburg virus. It originated in Germany and named after the city Marburg where there was research in 1967. The virus is now active in Madagascar. There's a news story dated November 6, 2017 Virus similar to Ebola mentioning Uganda and that it has spread to Madagascar. They're saying not only can a person catch it from touching bed sheets and clothing but it is airborne. When I originally read this story, I didn't want to mention it because of the big arguments and debates that went on when ebola was brought into the U.S. and accusations on the forums of the sky is falling type hysteria.

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

cherry — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 21:47:51 GMT

@puttypiesmom that is very frightening

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

JaneMarple — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 21:51:30 GMT

The ban lifted? NO!

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

viva923 — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 21:53:36 GMT

Boy this is a HUGE PANDORA box.

To many deadly viruses once they start they will kill and there will be no cures if there is a cure of some sort to many people will die before a cure can be made and given to people

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

cherry — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 21:56:33 GMT

The pandemic in 1914 or so ,killed 10 of millions of people. Strong husky young men were dead in just a few hours after contracting

it.. It got to Alaska via the mail ,and almost wiped out the entire population

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

SilleeMee — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 22:01:12 GMT

The Marburg virus has a natural host, that of a bat. People and other primates come in contact with bat droppings then get infected through mucous membranes and open wounds. It is also a STD. Marburg virus is considered to be the most dangerous virus on Earth.

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

cherry — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 22:04:28 GMT

@SilleeMee does anyone ever survive that virus?

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

SilleeMee — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 22:59:52 GMT

According to WHO it has an average fatality rate of 50% but can be as high as 88% depending on the strain and how well treatment is handled within an infected community. This virus is in the same family of viruses as Ebola, another hemorrhagic virus that (warning graphic)

turns everything inside you into a bloody gel

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

Cakers3 — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 00:47:55 GMT

@cherry wrote:
The pandemic in 1914 or so ,killed 10 of millions of people. Strong husky young men were dead in just a few hours after contracting

it.. It got to Alaska via the mail ,and almost wiped out the entire population

@cherry That pandemic wiped out the first set of children my MIL's parents had-the parents survived and started another family where my MIL came from.

We have been to the little graves of the first set of chldren. Tiny little headstones.

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

stevieb — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 00:58:42 GMT

Sooner or later, we're going to find some way of destroying everything that matters anyway... We've been gradually doing it for centuries. I suppose this just hurries it along...

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

Cakers3 — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 01:01:10 GMT

jmoymmv but deadly pathogens already exist in labs everywhere. Whether this ban being lifted increases jeopardizing us even more is a toss-up.

If vaccines are the ultimate goal, then perhaps the research is important enough to continue.

Anything can happen; already existing viruses can be released just as easilty as anything created without this ban.

Let's not forget that what is already out there (outside of labs) can mutate on its own.

Biological disasters bother me more than nuclear disasters.

Re: Do you think the ban on making lethal viruses should be lifted?

Moonchilde — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 01:29:19 GMT

Learning something! I consider myself well-read as far as news and especially medical news, but I hadn’t heard of Marburg before. Wow.