The process of preparing the investigator himself before starting the process the investigation with the detainee or with questioned this by intelligence also, there are several things before the investigation process with an arrested: the first of these things that should be aware that the process of investigation the investigator, who is fully aware of the issue of the detained or questioned:
The brother of the interrogation operation spy or others that knows well the issue as a whole; why is detained? What are the reasons that led to his detention? And how he was arrested? What are the things that were found with him during detention? We can say that a lot of these assets to be with the prison reform in many times a witness against this prisoner, therefore, brother, detained or who are arrested must get rid of everything may convict him in
The process of investigation, as well as the apartment or the place where he lives if subject to inspection and control, anything that is prohibited by the State, which is prohibited by or where they live, it must get rid of it, so as not to be used as evidence by the investigator against him.
We received news from the tribal area in Pakistan, a woman in the area in the tribes was working for the Americans, was moving in a strange inside the market, you know, in the tribal areas women's movement in the markets are almost non-existent, little intelligence for students who chase them and attention and suspicious overtures, when known or suspected that there are chased by the walking quickly during strolling distance quickly fell, the facilties, this device
It was the contact with the Americans, and then, after it had been captured and investigation with them, after it has been executed for involvement of spying for the CIA, Ùالستلايت this, who was with the women, spy was the one who led them to recognize that it was a tool to prove U.S. Jobs CIA. The Mujahid brother, always to get rid of all what can be condemned during the investigation. One of the brothers had been traveling when brought to the intelligence services you want to
Arrested directly with him was some hard discs in which, inter alia, prohibited, especially forbidden to work, then dump directly, and then taken to the investigation, and sat, there is a period and then got out of prison, and after that, God willing, God Almighty and I met with him ÙØدثنى said to me that the intelligence is not interested in the quality of the person, in whose hands is important, but then quantity المعلومى who has, how have the information, how بجعبتك of information relating to work and other.. This
وتزنك, if, I see that you are free of information does not mean nothing whatever your name or not, is important when intelligence information, which you have always, therefore ليØرص brother always to have a less than nothing of information, less load of information ought to be, this is how come? As we have said in previous lessons could be that do not interfere with the work of brother is not owned by him, interested in matters relating to work only the work that is not where it is not by the
Its competence must be always to be away from them and did not try to know more about the work of
others, because in the case of your rhythm, allegedly as a factor in the secret work you are under torture must be recognized, and whenever I was captured according whenever he tried to the idol that takes you to another, and will not leave you the idol to make all that you have, will not leave you to make sure that he had نخلك تنخيلا fully, nothing you have something, however, that some people say I have admitted confessions so simple
of torment, but the idol does not recognize this, if admitted, would be after كالمسبØØ© raining down all of the information that you have, and perhaps say that I recognized the brother of some information that does not hurt him, intelligence and does not stop at this point, it must be said that come with all that you have, because the intelligence - as we have said previously, the ceiling torture then is open to a certain extent, the remaining تعذبك to believe that torture here ended, Ùالادلاء information does not mean nothing; we must say
All that you have and that end is also that up to the stage by the head of the torture to which UNF focus to you. We ask God's wellness all the mujahideen. Human always keen to not be with him any km of information not him for work.
Conducting an inspection required on the place of questioning: Go to the room, which will assess the interrogation process where this room free of all affect the process of interrogation. The Chair; for a chair questioned or detained must not be comfortable, intelligence always puts you in a position to help you never thought, puts you in a very difficult situation in which the movement could not.
-the processing and preparation of questions in advance, appropriate method for presentation: questions you are processed in advance before the process of investigation, appropriate questions for this person, who is investigating with him, as well as how to view these questions, because it is in the first stages, many times you do not display any questions, the first stage may be a stage identify you only, which asks nothing, will remain with you for days, not asking for anything, except in cases of, for example, you are now captured and you want to meet with one of the brothers or meet people, aficionados
بتعذيبك at the same time, two hours were pouring from the chastisement, pouring you until you respond to them, and then tell them where you will meet with so and so or because of people, many of Pakistani brothers also fell in this way motion on the brothers, but the brothers thanks to God first and then thanks to Ùطنتهم security as they were when they meet with brother know how to meet with him, the actions required from the point of view of security, what are the families; either come early or not come to the meeting place or not.
Some of the brothers who were working with the brothers, Big Brother has stipulated before the start to work with him, he said to him: "You want to work with us, but if you have patience captured the detention and torture," he said, and he said the brother: "I am not ready to be patient on this matter," he said, and he said to him, brother: "We do not need us to you," he said, he was not ready to be
patient on torture. If you are not prepared to torture in this secret work on the expected lives of Muslims, depend. God reward him for good, he said "I am not
I can be patient to torture if I had captured admit", this is the way, no doubt in which families and amputation and murder, therefore, must be that the consequences of this same road, we ask God to keep everyone, and that is known as the brother His ability; can, for example, to move the secret work outside or could not, so do not implicating his brothers with him in the work, especially in secret work.
Preparation of the person arrested, detained or questioned: The first thing is the arrest of the person's arrest and detention, and then follow the self-inspection, the process of inspection, and then housing inspection, which is inhabited, intelligence is always a search his home, a search of the home of his relatives; his father and mother, or not, who has nothing to do with it perhaps find what condemns this person during the process of the investigation because the intelligence is always trying to obtain information, even if the small and simple for you to say to you that we know you, always in intelligence investigation
is trying to suggest to you in a way that much of the information that you have, then, in this way, when the investigator who is detained or struggling to face many of the facts comes in the same brother resistor that those tyrants know every small and large, but in fact they do not know a lot, a lot, do not know him, they do not know the Knower of the unseen, but through deception shrewdness they brother quite so they know much about him, so it must be the brother who always
Bearing in mind that this tyrant who bring with him does not know anything about him, and that this may be heard by, inter alia, registered trademark of former detainees had confessed to him, or that there are brothers had confessed to him from those who worked with him, many of these are the words of the things that have been programd, representation, however, admitted that deny him one must be important also faced the facts that must be denied, even if one of you has admitted even if his reputation recognized you because they are in the process
Dubbing; cutting the votes, cutting the talks and then after that demonstrated proficiency appearance when you hear it, you think that they really are correct and that recognition and other, but all of the scam that they are doing in the dubbing. Convicted brother always investigation in a world that denies everything, but things that are not able to shun, there are things that can not be denied by here that is not denied by, for example, information on famous for you what can you deny that must be
recognize it, you went to Afghanistan? say yes, I went to Afghanistan, what it has done in Afghanistan?, trained, what trained?, trained, for example, Kalashnikov, a pistol, so.., where? In Al-Farouq camp, all people know that people come to Al-Farouq camp, Camp خلدن, these camps, the famous denied everything you are a problem because they will know that you are lying to them, but it must also be smart, when you in this recognition, for example, spoke of the
The sessions do not harm this idol, do not, for example, speaks of the explosives because of the explosives special session or harmful to them. Some of the brothers in Europe, I think in France or in Britain forgot where families, found with brother during traveling Afghan encyclopedia Afghan jihad, what did they do these tyrants? started looking at fingerprints, fingerprints, brother of the encyclopedia, they found that more than his fingerprints found in article explosives, they asked him if he: Why reading a lot of explosives this? You understand? look at how they think the idol! I mean, the idol Is Not بجاهل takes security reserve is you and puts you
It is the place to sign your cunning and cunning, day and night. Now in Europe when he wants a brother, to resort to the State taking fingerprints; is it is required in this state or not, but thanks God, when the brothers how can some of the articles and to change these prints, of course, now there is talk about the material used by the brothers in order to maintain the confidentiality of such materials, which we use in the hide and change fingerprints
You should also know if you have worked in explosives, keep your fingerprints وملامسك material in which explosives for a period of six months to go for you, explosives and then travel if he went to Europe they can, through checking his hands to know it is working in explosives or does not work because these acids remain in his hand for a period, even if use glove box to keep radioactive materials and materials that are in the process of manufacturing explosives, Big Brother has to be detained must recognize the
Some of the things, but does not recognize the things that terrify the idol, but it must be recognized on some things even believe that the process of investigation, away from the sessions of the manufacture of explosives, away from the sessions of electronics, and use of explosives, training on the disarmament, on the tank, the mortars, the other weapons, this is not much when tyrants. It is important three sessions or four sessions: Sessions of security, outside employment and, sessions
Intelligence, sessions of explosives, electronics and use of explosives; these courses human always keen to be away from them and does not recognize, and admits that he learned in one day.
isolated from the rest of the participants if there are other individuals in one subject: You must isolate this prison from the rest of the detainees, who with him until you can after that rhythm. Intelligence is always a wedge between the brothers in this way; isolate the brothers of each other, and then begins to interrogate this separately, on the basis, and then compared between confessions, as well as may be a deception each other so as to be expected, including; say to them, admitted that so-and-so you do not need to denial, because he admitted to you, you are
Did you do this and this and this, so and so said such and such, you are in this situation must not start what you tyrant even if I saw brother recognized and hear with your own ears does not believe that he confessed, denies any relation to you this even if admitted. Three of the brothers were arrested in a particular case, when they have to investigate with them all, brother said the story of the individual, then they gathered stories different: Her parents entered them the idol intelligence officer said to them: "I ask you to look at that come together to
According to one, each and every one of you has a story, you have to admit وتقروا including it was," he said, because it does not have the story of one every one has different view. Therefore, always on the brothers, who were working in the work of the one that they agree on the cover, to agree on certain story ÙŠØÙظونها well so that every human being, when it detains, God forbid, estimated to arrest says the same this story, even if he was asked about fifty times says the same this story, be saves them and saves
His name, that there should be no conflict in words between the brothers, who were working in the work of one because the idol will not satisfy you and will not acknowledge even come together, you are the one story and one thing, if they found there is a contradiction in words, a conflict in stories, it must have, you have something, it must be the brothers that the Sunna one story and memorize their names. Also what it found with him during the arrest, inspection and serve as a tool to control it, it is clear that what he finds with you intelligence man will be used as evidence against you until you acknowledge.
isolation of the people: the بعزلك the people even ÙŠØطمك psychologically, until you feel that you are under siege from every place.
The use of the technique of suggestion: that there is no recognized him to recognize them and thus be confronted by admitting foil all debtors, mentioned above. Tyrants, especially in the so-called state of Israel when they arrested one of there if they failed to take the information of what to do? There is nothing called rooms or room sparrows roaches they call it. These rooms are the words of what? Take brother detainee who did not recognize the hive in this room and in this room a man is a spy - is to several forms of some of this, I say - this spy that depicted a brother Mujahid or
Detainees it then the process enticing this brother detainee to recognize and perhaps warning of spies in other places if he went to! You must always do not trust what is inside the prison with you, do not trust the Never, never trust a inside prison, do not trust one speaks not something in prison why? Because, if this is not Sparrow, which they call the spy committed - that is the words of a spy, but wears an uniform and that Islam and Jihad militants detained like you, may be inside the prison the
eavesdropping and photography, all that you say is always at those tyrants.
Also the forms of these rooms that comes brother detainee to a group of these birds; sparrows those living together in a dormitory they call or a private room, a detainee or large room, these are on the basis of that they are a cell or a group, struggling, and usually are, all of them are spies, in fact, they are spies for Israel, the compound could be ten, all of whom originally beards, as well as carrying out night and praying came late, and other face
OIC, which they are in, and they have and they have prince emir of Shura Council, and they have an official security official and they are illegal, and they have. All the belief in the group does not exist, as if it were a small group within the prison are spies. Big Brother has come to them a new, goes to him after a day or two security official says what is your story and any organization you belong and how?.. starts asking him, we group wants to enter with us must know about you all, if good cooperation with them, and if it does not cooperate with them they beat him why? On the basis that it might be a spy's them came to them! They are spies in origin.
The confessions from them, and ninety percent of confessions obtained in Palestine was through these sparrows. is to justify them shows that the Mujahid, giving them real information on it, thinking that these fighters are in fact the words of spies and agents for Mossad. Other forms are known in this format: the sparrow malicious spy remains committed two or three does not speak with you, do not speak with you never, you are after two or three tired goes to speak with him and may offer you a phone, says
you I am after days as possible show you must telephone related to the brothers or to your friends, I escaped this telephone in a manner such as well as, you want to relate to the one of your friends, as you say, I'll come out after two or three wants to the message's or've crushed those who meant them harm or لاصØابك or from working with them, do you want me to inform NASA working with you to flee or take them or not.
It is multiple forms, multiple rooms many difficulties for those mujahideen in Israeli prisons, therefore, always human in prison does not trust in a start, do not trust in one of the prison, whatever his appearance was an Islamic religious body or not, I take it that you don't know by a spy spying on you, or may be defined on the basis of that Mujahid, but is in reality a spy, therefore always take human suspicion in dealing inside the prison, even with those who
He knew from before; because if it is not, it might be the walls of the listening devices is that spying on you and take information during your talk with this person, Rafida from this all caution that do not trust Never in human prisoners who with him in prison.
not to talk with him: must be that no one is to speak with you in prison, prevent talking to you in every way. Interviews also prevents, also prevents modern guards to you, no one is talking with you to remain
isolated, collapse psychologically.. All of this would help them in the process of extracting information from you and the recognition of the because in this case the up to psychological condition very difficult, you want to conclude that recognizes any thing even if it was not done, tyrants want buses to this situation, so the thing that has not been recognized by because they want to the information you desire, especially if they were working
For the Americans, as is happening now, they want you to any confession, wants to satisfy US lady in any way, they want you to speak any thing, even if it was a lie, it must be extracted this information from you
For the Americans, as is happening now, they want you to any confession, wants to satisfy US lady in any way, they want you to speak any thing, even if it was a lie, it must be extracted this information from you ويوصلها convinced
In the White House, Vered you any information so that satisfies Mr. White House in the United States of America, is probably says you say anything, admitted lying is important to say anything to us to inform them.
10. That does not have a place of residence comfortable even does not think equanimity and develop a plan to answer:
you brother what was relieved, said intelligence: "I want to place the Artah", they said to him: "We did not come here to relax your we have! ", they do not doubt you were disturbing عيشتك, the curse of Allah, Allah نغص they spend their days.
But Maisara al that their days are numbered with larger Sidhoum America and the fall of America no doubt is in parentheses or a minimum of that, thanks to God Almighty, that many of these intelligence men who had تÙننوا in torture brothers
The Mujahideen have made destitute by Almighty God in their lives before so painful With agony, shame, this Salah Nasr and Hamza Al-Basuni I said to you how the shameful cordially, those who تÙننوا in the torture of the mujahedeen in the era of the deceased
Abdul Nasser; Abdul Nasser when perished and in the tomb, his grave after days of water erupted الخلاءات, to serve as a lesson to others, overflowed from His Grave الخلاءات water.
Kamal Ataturk from the intensity of the pain that he suffered from before his death put him inside the ship, and they were running motors and drives the ship so as not heard people shout loudly from the severity of the pain.
Deceased King Hussein before his death an action in which the wonders of cancer, until he became outdoors is disgusting, cannot be considered to fall after his hair.
King Fahd remained several years and is not aware of anything that is going on around him, a puppet move. Sharon is an enemy of God Almighty to now still in coma agonized.
This is the doom of the Hereafter is the minimum, what, then, a questioner, intelligence men to repent to God Almighty capacity before them; because in the case of the capacity they have no doubt that the sword is, who will work in their necks, and they should be them
Also a lesson in these perish from طواغيتهم and last deceased Al-Sharif Ali Bin Zaid, this was on a special mission, humanitarian mission, especially in the service Afghan people! came to Afghanistan in order to serve the defenseless Muslims simple
المغلوبين on them in Afghanistan, was also says the intelligence services in Jordan Jordanian army and those who do not, allegedly يستØيون of God Almighty, يستØيون from themselves, they claim that the Sharif deceased Bin Zaid
That came for humanitarian mission, especially in Afghanistan, the Special Mission in Afghanistan were the words for killing Muslims and militants in Afghanistan, where the Pakistani tribes, who was killed in the place is the base of Chaman
In Khost; this rule, which is used as a starting point, the spy plane, the plane of the non-pilot used in bombing defenseless Muslims of Afghan people in Pakistan Pakistani tribes in Afghanistan. This is the humanitarian mission, which they claim it humanitarian mission and speak it and say that it fell martyrs (martyr due)
They also always in Jordan, I say to them if not تستØيوا God Almighty ÙاستØيوا for you from perdition of قبائلكم to which you belong to be obedient tool in Cross Service us otherwise your fate will be like the deceased. We say to you attributed وتوبوا to God Almighty and let you let you in the loss of these
The unjust. A lesson. There is no doubt that this suffering that hit those tyrants apostates is suffering what worldly chastisement of God Almighty that awaits them on the Day of Resurrection? We ask God's spa. There is no doubt that this religion Montaser even after a while, both on our hands or at the hands of next generation of righteous servants of Allah.
Stages of interrogation.
Did the report provide a “blueprint” for bioterrorists to develop and unleash a devastating pandemic on the world?
No. This report does not provide the blueprint for bioterrorist to develop a pandemic influenza strain. The reverse genetics system that was used to generate the 1918 virus is a widely used laboratory technique. While there are concerns that this approach could potentially be misused for purposes of bioterrorism, there are also clear and significant potential benefits of sharing this information with the scientific community: namely, facilitating the development of effective interventions, thereby strengthening public health and national security.
Is the 1918 influenza virus a select agent?
The Intra-governmental Select Agents and Toxins Technical Advisory Committee convened on September 30, 2005, and recommended that the reconstructed 1918 influenza virus be added to the list of HHS select agents. Following this recommendation, CDC amended its regulations and designated all reconstructed replication competent forms of the 1918 pandemic influenza virus containing any portion of the coding regions of all eight gene segments (reconstructed 1918 Influenza virus) as a select agent.
What is the Select Agent Program?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regulates the possession, use and transfer of select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety. The CDC Select Agent Program oversees these activities and registers all laboratories and other entities in the United States of America that possess, use or transfer a select agent or toxin.
The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) published final rules for the possession, use, and transfer of select agents and toxins (42 C.F.R. Part 73, 7 C.F.R. Part 331, and 9 C.F.R. Part 121) in the Federal Register on March 18, 2005. All provisions of these final rules supersede those contained in the interim final rules and became effective on April 18, 2005.
Who funded the work described in this article?
Work with the reconstructed 1918 virus was conducted at and supported by CDC. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) all provided support for many other aspects of this research.
When did CDC begin research on the 1918 virus?
CDC studies of the 1918 influenza virus were begun in 2004 with the initiation of testing of viruses containing subsets of the eight genes of the 1918 virus. Previous articles describing the properties of such viruses were published before 2005. Reconstruction of the entire 1918 virus was begun in August 2005.
Could a 1918-like H1N1 virus re-emerge and cause a pandemic again?
It is impossible to predict with certainty the emergence of a future pandemic, including a 1918-like virus. Pandemics occur when an influenza virus emerges to which there is little, or no, preexisting immunity in the human population. However, it is generally thought that a 1918-like pandemic would be less severe due to the advent of vaccines to prevent flu, current FDA-approved antiviral influenza drugs, and the existing global influenza surveillance system that the World Health Organization maintains.
Are current antivirals and vaccines effective against the 1918 H1N1 virus?
Yes. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu® or generic), has been shown to be effective against similar influenza A(H1N1) viruses and is expected to be effective against the 1918 H1N1 virus. Other antivirals (zanamivir, peramivir and baloxavir) have not been tested against this specific virus but are expected to also be effective. Vaccines containing the 1918 HA or other subtype H1 HA proteins were effective in protecting mice against the 1918 H1N1 virus. Vaccination with current seasonal influenza vaccines is expected to provide some protection in humans since seasonal influenza vaccines provided some level of protection against the 1918 H1N1 virus in mice.
Are new prophylactics and therapeutics that could be effective against the 1918 virus under way?
Scientists continue to work on development of new antivirals which may be effective against a 1918-like virus. The reconstruction of the 1918 H1N1 pandemic virus and subsequent studies that followed showed that the 1918 polymerase genes contribute to efficient replication of the pandemic virus. This insight identified an important virulence factor in the study of influenza that is now targeted for antiviral compound development. Therefore, new polymerase inhibitors promise to add to the clinical management options against influenza virus infections in the future.
Biosafety Precautions
Was the public at risk from the experiments being done on this virus?
The work described in this report was done using stringent biosafety and biosecurity precautions that are designed to protect workers and the public from possible exposure to this virus (for example, from accidental release of the virus into the environment). The 1918 virus used in these experiments has since been destroyed at CDC and does not pose any ongoing risk to the public.
What biosafety and biosecurity precautions for protecting laboratory workers and the public were in place while this work was being done?
Before the experiments were begun, two tiers of internal CDC approval were conducted: an Institutional Biosafety Committee review and an Animal Care and Use Committee review. All viruses containing one or more gene segments from the 1918 influenza virus were generated and handled in accordance with biosafety guidelines of the Interim CDC-NIH Recommendation for Raising the Biosafety Level Laboratory Work Involving Noncontemporary Human Influenza Viruses. Although the 1918 virus was not designated as a select agent at the time this work was performed, all procedures were carried out using the heightened biosecurity elements mandated by CDC’s Select Agent program. The Intra-governmental Select Agents and Toxins Technical Advisory Committee recommended that the reconstructed 1918 influenza virus be added to the list of HHS select agents on September 30, 2005. Following this recommendation, CDC amended its regulations and designated all reconstructed replication competent forms of the 1918 pandemic influenza virus containing any portion of the coding regions of all eight gene segments (reconstructed 1918 Influenza virus) as a select agent.
What are the appropriate biosafety practices and containment conditions for work with the 1918 strain of influenza?
Biosafety Level 3 or Animal Biosafety Level 3 practices, procedures and facilities, plus enhancements that include special procedures (discussed in the next question below), are recommended for work with the 1918 strain. There are four biosafety levels that correspond to the degree of risk posed by the research and involve graded levels of protection for personnel, the environment, and the community. Biosafety Level 4 provides the most stringent containment conditions, Biosafety Level 1 the least stringent. These biosafety levels consist of a combination of laboratory practices and techniques, safety equipment, and laboratory facilities that are appropriate for the operations being performed. The specific criteria for each biosafety level are detailed in the CDC/NIH publication Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories.
What is Biosafety Level 3 “enhanced”? What are the specific enhancements used for work with the 1918 strain of influenza?
A Biosafety Level 3 facility with specific enhancements includes primary (safety cabinets, isolation chambers, gloves and gowns) and secondary (facility construction, HEPA filtration treatment of exhaust air) barriers to protect laboratory workers and the public from accidental exposure. The specific additional (“enhanced”) procedures used for work with the 1918 strain include:
Rigorous adherence to additional respiratory protection and clothing change protocols;
Use of negative pressure, HEPA-filtered respirators or positive air-purifying respirators (PAPRs);
Use of HEPA filtration for treatment of exhaust air; and
Amendment of personnel practices to include personal showers prior to exiting the laboratory.
Further details of the biosafety recommendations for work with various human and animal influenza viruses, including 1918 virus, can be found in the interim CDC/NIH guidance for such work at Interim CDC-NIH Recommendation for Raising the Biosafety Level Laboratory Work Involving Noncontemporary Human Influenza Viruses.
How were these experiments conducted safely using containment provided by BSL-3 with enhancements?br>
Highly trained laboratorians worked with the 1918 influenza virus strain safely using BSL-3-enhanced containment. Researchers at CDC receive specialized training and go through a rigorous biosafety (and security) clearance process. For the work reported in the Science article, the lead CDC researcher provided routine weekly written reports to CDC management officials, including the agency’s Chief Science Officer, and was instructed to notify agency officials immediately of any concerns related to biosafety or biosecurity.
A BSL-3 facility with specific enhancements includes primary (safety cabinets, isolation cabinets, gloves, gowns) and secondary (facility construction) barriers to protect laboratory workers and the public from accidental exposure. Specific enhancements include change-of-clothing and shower-out requirements, and the use of a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR; half body suits). The primary and secondary barriers plus additional personal safety practices provide appropriate containment for conducting such influenza research. CDC evaluated the specific studies to be conducted as well as the highly experienced scientific team conducting the research and concluded that this work could proceed under BSL-3 containment with enhancements.
Why was BSL-3-enhanced containment used for work on the 1918 H1N1 virus when most human influenza viruses of the H1N1 subtype are handled under much less stringent containment?
The appropriate biosafety measures for working a given pathogen depend upon a number of factors, including previous experience with the pathogen or similar pathogens, the virulence and transmissibility of the pathogen, the type of experiment, and the availability of vaccines and/or antimicrobial drugs effective against the pathogen. Prior to reconstruction of the 1918 virus, CDC carefully evaluated the specific studies to be conducted and concluded that this research could safely and securely be done under BSL-3-enhanced containment. All viruses containing one or more gene segments from the 1918 influenza virus were generated and handled under high-containment (BSL 3-enhanced) laboratory conditions in accordance with guidelines of NIH and CDC. The recommendations for biosafety levels are made by a panel of experts and are followed in a stringent manner.
A higher level of containment (biosafety level 4) is utilized for work on novel or exotic pathogens for which there is no treatment or vaccine. This is not the case for the 1918 virus. Descendants of the 1918 influenza virus still circulate today, and current seasonal influenza vaccines provide some protection against the 1918 virus. In addition, two types of antiviral drugs, rimantadine (Flumadine) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu® or generic) have been shown to be effective against similar influenza A(H1N1) viruses and are expected to be effective against the 1918 H1N1 virus. Other antivirals (zanamivir, peramivir and baloxavir) have not been tested against this specific virus but also are expected to be effective.
The physical and engineering design of BSL-3-enhanced containment is very similar to that used in BSL-4 laboratories. The BSL-3 laboratory also has state-of-the-art directional airflow control which filters outgoing air, and all waste is autoclaved or decontaminated before it leaves the work area, preventing escape of infectious agents.
Biosecurity Issues
Did the generation of the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic virus containing the complete coding sequence of the eight viral gene segments violate the Biological Weapons Convention?
No. Article I of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) specifically allows for microbiological research for prophylactic, protective, or other peaceful purposes. Article X of the BWC encourages the “fullest possible exchange of…scientific and technological information” for the use of biological agents for the prevention of disease and other peaceful purposes. Further, Article X of the BWC provides that the BWC should not hamper technological development in the field of peaceful bacteriological activities. Because the emergence of another pandemic virus is considered likely, if not inevitable, characterization of the 1918 virus may enable us to recognize the potential threat posed by new influenza virus strains, and it will shed light on the prophylactic and therapeutic countermeasures that will be needed to control pandemic viruses.
Did the report provide a “blueprint” for bioterrorists to develop and unleash a devastating pandemic on the world?
No. This report does not provide the blueprint for bioterrorist to develop a pandemic influenza strain. The reverse genetics system that was used to generate the 1918 virus is a widely used laboratory technique. While there are concerns that this approach could potentially be misused for purposes of bioterrorism, there are also clear and significant potential benefits of sharing this information with the scientific community: namely, facilitating the development of effective interventions, thereby strengthening public health and national security.
Is the 1918 influenza virus a select agent?
The Intra-governmental Select Agents and Toxins Technical Advisory Committee convened on September 30, 2005, and recommended that the reconstructed 1918 influenza virus be added to the list of HHS select agents. Following this recommendation, CDC amended its regulations and designated all reconstructed replication competent forms of the 1918 pandemic influenza virus containing any portion of the coding regions of all eight gene segments (reconstructed 1918 Influenza virus) as a select agent.
What is the Select Agent Program?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regulates the possession, use and transfer of select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety. The CDC Select Agent Program oversees these activities and registers all laboratories and other entities in the United States of America that possess, use or transfer a select agent or toxin.
The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) published final rules for the possession, use, and transfer of select agents and toxins (42 C.F.R. Part 73, 7 C.F.R. Part 331, and 9 C.F.R. Part 121) in the Federal Register on March 18, 2005. All provisions of these final rules supersede those contained in the interim final rules and became effective on April 18, 2005.