* 27 February 2004 "After the worldwide alarm triggered by 2003's SARS outbreak, it might seem reckless to set about creating a potentially far more devastating virus in the lab. But that is what is being attempted by some researchers, who argue that the dangers of doing nothing are even greater. We already know that the H5N1 bird flu virus ravaging poultry farms in Asia can be lethal on the rare occasions when it infects people. Now a team is tinkering with its genes to see if it can turn into a strain capable of spreading from human to human. If they manage this, they will have created a virus that could kill tens of millions if it got out of the lab." Learn more about how scientists are experimenting with deadly strains of the flu virus--and why some question the wisdom of this behavior at New Scientist.
Has it gotten out? Did China let it escape?
The ChiComs aren't known for quality control. For some reason, I think a good fume hood in a lab would qualify Bio Level 3 containment. (Even with a dirt floor.)
For China to admit - openly - that they had to send 50,000 people to contain this speaks volumes about the severity of the problem. Plus they are denying access to WHO.
I sure wish we knew more.