Jim Mau wrote:
>> Frank Eldredge wrote:
> >
> > In article <5b54gu$t6o at net.bio.net>,
> > Alexander Loucks <alex.loucks at sympatico.ca> wrote:
> >
> > >Could anyboy possibly give me any information on possible viruses
> > >that may have been developed for the specific purpose of
> > >biological warfare?
> >
> > Why does he/she want to know???? <<<----
>> This is a very good question. One that we should ask when these
> kind of inquiries occur. You may recall that the CDC/Congress is
> currently contemplating legislation to deal with the transport of
> these agents to 'unqualified' persons because of an acquisition made
> by a militia member from ATCC last year. I do not wish to stand in
> the way of someones education, but I know too that real freedom is
> based on the personal responsility of each of us to guard that
> freedom. I too, would like to know "Why does he/she want to
> know"?
Agreed. Given all the controversy over the easy availability of advice
on explosives manufacture on the net, the last thing we should do is
drag the virology community into a similar morass. Nonetheless, the
potential aggressive use of biological agents is an important topic so
perhaps we could twist this around and ask: How best can the community
of virologists minimize the chance that biopathogens will be used to
cause deliberate harm. Any takers?
Robin Colgrove
Division of Infectious Diseases
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Harvard School of Medicine
