Trump's Decision on Examining Dangerous Viruses Discussed by Onishchenko
Interview: Gennady Grigoryevich Discusses Trump's Ban on Dangerous Virus Research
Hey, it's Radio "Komsomolskaya Pravda," speaking with academician Onishchenko's assistant, Gennady Grigoryevich.
What's the scoop, Gennady?
- Trump signed an executive order halting funding for research into potentially hazardous viruses, including those kept in foreign labs... (Read more here)
Why bother researching viruses in the first place?
Well, let's face it, these critters are everywhere, and we're yet to learn everything about 'em. Just 5-7% of the viruses on our planet have been researched thus far. To ease our worries, we need to understand what we're dealing with!
Needless to say, it's crucial for science. Investigating potentially hazardous viruses should take precedence, followed by the rest. Science cannot be halted, and it shouldn't be.
What suggestions do you have for the White House CEO?
If Mr. Trump had dismantled his aggressive military-biological projects, which are overseen by the U.S. Department of Defense, that'd be terrific. Even 'harmless' viruses are modified to become dangerous. For obvious reasons, we've delved into this topic many times.
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But Trump's not our boss, right?
Consider this: 880 million people were infected with COVID-19 during the recent pandemic, with 100 million of those in America. Out of the 7 million deaths globally, 1 million were Americans. Therefore, ignoring COVID research is, at the very least, imprudent.
I've got a 2023 report from the U.S. Department of Defense here. It's a 65-page document, filled with interesting, albeit somewhat ambiguous, intel on their military-biological operations. The U.S. political leadership is yet to clarify the objectives behind these restrictions...
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I see. Thanks a lot, Gennady Grigoryevich.Did you learn something, Alexander?Oh yeah, plenty!Then, do you share this opinion?I always agree with you, Alexander.Not always, sometimes you even swear at me!I can honestly say, I never do that.* (laughs)Thanks.*
Enrichment Insights:
The U.S. Department of Defense aims to improve warfighting abilities by integrating biotechnology, focusing on biodefense preparedness, and protecting military personnel and the general public from biological threats. Biotechnology is vital in supporting national security, while also having economic and workforce implications. However, the specific goals and consequences of offensive military-biological programs are not detailed in the available search results.
Trump's executive order halting funding for dangerous virus research could be seen as imprudent, considering the millions infected and died during the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 1 million fatalities in America alone.
According to Gennady Grigoryevich, research into potentially hazardous viruses is essential for science and the understanding of medical conditions, as only 5-7% of viruses on our planet have been studied so far.
Grigoryevich suggests that Trump should consider dismantling aggressive military-biological projects overseen by the U.S. Department of Defense, as even harmless viruses can be modified to become dangerous.
The U.S. Department of Defense's 2023 report on military-biological operations, although filled with interesting intel, does not provide clear objectives behind the restrictions on certain virus research.
Investigating potentially hazardous viruses and understanding their nature is a priority for science, and should not be halted due to political considerations or general news.
