Some controversial experiments on bird-flu virus are going to get another look by a committee that advises the US government. NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce reports that the panel had previously recommended keeping some aspects of that research secret.
The two government-funded experiments showed what (genetic changes) could make bird-flu contagious between ferrets. The concern is that these lab-altered flu viruses could also potentially spread (in the air) between people. A committee called the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity recently said the full details of these studies should not be made public, because the information could be (misused) by someone who wanted to create a dangerous new flu. But now an official says the committee will be asked to look at new data and a (clarification) of earlier findings. This information was shared with an (advisory panel) convened by the World Health Organization two weeks ago. It recommended publishing the work. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.