Citing a recent government notice, the Beijing News reported that China has warned maverick scientists against conducting "unsafe" research into bird flu, ordering them to seek explicit approval from the authorities first, and that the ministry of agriculture must give the green light before anyone can transport microbe samples abroad, stating, "No unit or person is allowed to dissect poultry or wild animals that have died from disease, or to collect or transport samples without the approval of animal health authorities at the provincial level or above. No unit or person is allowed to collect samples and microbes and ship them overseas without the agriculture ministry's permission."
The story notes that the warning came a month after the government acknowledged more than 1000 migratory birds had been found dead from the H5N1 strain of avian flu in northwest China's Qinghai province.
That story from Promedmail. Recombinomics offers more commentary, and wonders if new information about a cluster of pneumonia cases in Tacheng, Xinjiang, signals phase six of a pandemic.
