Following fears that the highly infectious bird-flu virus might escape from the laboratories that are conducting research on the virus, influenza experts have agreed to a two-month voluntary ban on research.

Safety of laboratories was although confirmed by about 39 researchers from around the world but they also acknowledged that if the H5N1 avian influenza strain released into the air then it can be a grave public concern and this needed to be avoided.

A letter was written by researchers that stated, "We realise that organisations and governments around the world need time to find the best solutions for opportunities and challenges that stem from the work. To provide time for these discussions, we have agreed on a voluntary pause of 60 days on any research involving highly pathogenic influenza H5N1 viruses leading to the generation of viruses that are more transmissible in mammals."

Many people have been killed by the virus in the past and genetic mutations of this could lead to a strain of bird flu that was airborne and this could infect many people leading to several deaths also.