NIH Resumes MERS, Flu Studies
By Cyndi Root
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has allowed studies for MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) and the flu top resume. The federal agency informed investigators and confirmed the trials’ restart in an email, NPR reports. The NIH had issued a pause in studies due to concerns about transmission risks and irregularities in lab practices. Health officials were worried that the influenza, MERS, and SARS studies might make the diseases more deadly or contagious.
MERS Experiments
The MERS virus is centered in the Middle East, infects camels, and is transmitted to people, who often die of the disease. The concern is that the disease will mutate and cause a pandemic. The NIH informed scientists, including Matthew Frieman of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, that it approved a request to end the moratorium. Mr. Frieman stated that experiments with mice would continue. Before the study pause, investigators sought to modify the MERS virus so it would affect and sicken the mice more, in an effort to create a model in the lab to test treatments, including vaccines and drugs.
Investigators responded to the study cessation, stating that the modifications they are making to the virus are not dangerous to humans, and only affect the laboratory mice. Thomas Inglesby of the UPMC Center for Health Security said to the NPR that while he has been a critic of modifying viruses in the past, current experiments do not seek to make the virus more contagious to humans. He said, "It seems reasonable and prudent to end the moratorium on coronavirus related work."
Bird Flu Experiments
The NIH, while allowing some experiments, has not allowed others to resume yet. Ron Fouchier, a virologist from the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands, was part of the bird flu experiments which were stopped by the NIH in October. His work entails understanding how the bird flu virus mutates and spreads. He states that he did not apply to have his work resume, but did ask that the NIH clarify which aspects of his work are concerning.