-Caveat Lector- Source: BBC Online, Tue 22 May 2001 15:58 GMT [edited] <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1345000/1345431.stm> Hepatitis C and dengue fever virus hybrid: college fined -------------------------------------------------------- One of London's top research units has admitted that it broke health and safety legislation while combining 2 dangerous viruses. Imperial College had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing at London's Marylebone Magistrates Court to 2 charges relating to laboratory work involving a combination of the hepatitis C and dengue fever viruses. The College had already been fined �20 000 in March for another health and safety offence relating to the storage of HIV. They have now been committed to the Crown Court for sentencing. District Judge Elizabeth Roscoe said that the breaches were "potentially extremely dangerous and a matter of high public concern." The college, in Kensington, west London, admitted "failing to apply principles of good microbiological practice and principles of good occupational safety and hygiene" under regulations governing genetically modified organisms. The researchers were trying to create an artificial hybrid of the two viruses. The college had also pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to ensure the safety of employees. The Health and Safety Executive prosecution followed an inspection at the college's St Mary's Hospital campus in December 1998. In a statement the college said: "Imperial College regrets these breaches of the health and safety legislation but stresses that no member of the public was at risk at any time. Hepatitis C virus infects around 200 million carriers worldwide. This research project was intended to produce a new type of hybrid hepatitis C virus, which would allow researchers to speed up their search for a vaccine and to replace the use of animals in much of this work. The college has stringent policies and procedures in place to regulate activities of this nature. It takes all its health and safety responsibilities very seriously and has taken steps to ensure that such an incident cannot happen again. Extra staff devoted to monitoring and advising on safety in the college are now in post." -- ProMED-mail <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [Breaches of microbiological safety of this type deserve to be publicized widely. The apparent intention of this research was to facilitate development of a hepatitis C vaccine by construction of a hepatitis C virus/dengue fever virus recombinant. This approach seems hazardous in the extreme, particularly as no protective vaccine to either of the components of the hybrid virus is currently available. One wonders how this research came to be funded. If there is some rationale justifying this approach, perhaps someone should explain. - Mod.CP] <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
