By MALCOLM RITTER
By MALCOLM RITTER
Associated Press
NEW YORK — The U.S. government’s biosecurity advisers said Friday they support publishing research studies showing how scientists made new easy-to-spread forms of bird flu because the studies, now revised, don’t reveal details bioterrorists could use.
The decision could end a debate that began in December when the government took the unprecedented step of asking the scientists not to publicize all the details of their work.
The research, by two scientific teams — one in Wisconsin, the other in the Netherlands — was funded by the United States. It was an effort to learn more about the potential threat from bird flu in Asia. The virus so far doesn’t spread easily among people. But the new lab-made viruses spread easily among ferrets, suggesting they would also spread among humans.
Last year, after reviewing earlier versions of the papers, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity said publishing full details would be too risky. The federal government agreed.
Scientists around the world debated the matter. Many argued that full publication would help scientists track dangerous mutations in natural bird flu viruses and test vaccines and treatments.
On Friday, board members, meeting in Washington, announced they are satisfied with the revised papers. The panel’s advice now goes to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for a decision.
The board unanimously supported publication of one study, led by Yoshihiro Kawaoka, of the University of Wisconsin, and supported publication of the key parts of a second study.