Scientists working on ways to detect and prevent the spread of the avian flu virus have suspended their work out of concern that it could either be used for bioterrorism or that it might escape the lab; either development could create a global pandemic and cost thousands, perhaps millions, of lives.
The decision to halt the research is temporary: A meeting of global health experts will be convened to decide how the work should proceed. It is a critical debate for which there are no easy answers. But agreeing on a process is essential given the magnitude of the risks in both directions.
The H5N1 bird flu emerged in Southeast Asia in the late 1990s. It was first detected in humans in Hong Kong in 1997; 18 people were diagnosed with the virus, six of whom died. It was thought that the disease had jumped species as a result of close exposure to infected animals in live bird markets.