Arizona News Releases
January 6th, 2009Kerry Fehr-Snyder
The Arizona Republic
May. 31, 2006 12:00 AM
The H5N1 avian-flu virus sweeping westward from Asia may land at a
lab at Arizona State University.
Researchers at ASU's Biodesign Institute in Tempe are seeking
permission to store and manipulate the bird virus, which many
scientists fear could mutate and spark a human flu pandemic. They
are trying to make a vaccine against the strain, possibly using
genetically modified salmonella bacterium.
The H5N1 virus is potentially so deadly that it is considered a
bioterrorism agent. Scientists who work with the strain must first
get special security clearances
Roy Curtiss, co-director of the institute's Center for Infectious
Diseases and Vaccinology, said he and others at ASU sought
clearances in the fall and hope to have the virus in the lab this
fall.
U.S. Department of Agriculture officials are scheduled to inspect
the labs soon. The agency's Animal and Plant Inspection Service
division has certified 22 labs to handle the virus.
Curtiss said community members should not be worried if the
university succeeds in obtaining the virus.
"It's a legitimate concern," he said. "But the H5N1 virus at this
stage is not highly infectious to humans. And it's not going to
escape (from the lab). The people that are working with these things
are at far, far more at risk than anyone walking around in Tempe and
Phoenix. And scientists are very protective of themselves."
The institute has several security levels for those entering the
lab. Security guards police the entrances to the building, and
authorized staff members and students must use card keys to enter
offices and research labs. Retinal scanners are a final barrier to
entrance.
Before working with the H5N1 strain, researchers plan to work with a
less pathogenic strain of bird flu.
"We're going to go in steps. It'll allow us to set up a system,"
Curtiss said.
Researchers would need to use the institute's Biosafety Level-3
agriculture lab, which features a special hood under which the virus
is handled and negative air pressure among other safeguards.
Researchers would have additional requirements, too, such as wearing
special clothing and equipment. They also would need to be immunized
against a host of viruses.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0531fluvaccineside.html
#If you have any other info about this subject , Please add it free.# |
