Morning Briefing

Ron Fouchier of Erasmus Medical Center, "[t]he Dutch scientist at the center of the controversy over recent bird flu experiments, says that his team applied for government permission today to submit a paper describing their research to a science journal," NPR's health blog "Shots" reports, adding, "The Dutch government has asserted that the studies, which describe how to make bird flu virus more contagious, fall under regulations that control the export of weapons technology." According to the news service, "He feels the government's actions amount to censorship and has previously has said he did not want to apply for an export permit, because it would set a precedent" (Greenfieldboyce, 4/24). "Fouchier says that by conceding to the government's request while continuing to contest the need for an export permit, he hopes to have found an acceptable compromise," Nature writes.