Virus mutant H5N1: beginning of a closed meeting at WHO in Geneva

[tetano]

Geneva - 20 experts met Thursday behind closed doors at the headquarters of the world Organization of health (who) to determine whether the scientists involved in the development of a mutation of the H5N1 virus capable of transmitting between humans can publish their studies.The meeting, which will continue Friday, started at 09: 00 local (08 H 00 GMT), told AFP a who spokesperson, Gregory Hartl.Sur 22 participants that must attend this technical consultation, 21 arrived and one is overdue, he said.Participants include teams of the two researchers and representatives of scientific journals Science and Nature which should publish the results of the studies.The meeting aims to reach a consensus among researchers, studies conducted on H5N1 influenza virus changes to make it more transmissible between humans has raised concerns in the international community on risks and abuse.Because if the avian influenza virus H5N1 is particularly transmissible between birds, when it is transmissible to man, it is 60% fatal, according to the who.

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