Concern over research involving the creation of bird flu that spreads more easily is in the news again. An international group of scientists published an outline Aug. 6 in Science and Nature for similar experiments that could involve even stronger strains of the type of bird flu known as H7N9.

After a marathon debate over a pair of studies that show how the avian H5N1 influenza virus could become transmissible in mammals one of the studies was finally and fully published today (May 3, 2012) in the journal Nature

Scientists working on the transmission of the H5N1 avian influenza strain have voluntarily agreed to halt research for 60 days to allow time for international discussion on its benefits and potential harms.