The Dutch government has granted an export licence to allow publication of controversial research into a virulent form of the bird flu virus H5N1.

The new form of the virus – which allows it to spread from birds to mammals – was engineered by scientists at Erasmus University in Rotterdam on behalf of an American institute. However, official publication of the results was stopped because of fears terrorists would be able to replicate the experiments.
Following some amendments, the research will now be published in the US academic publication Science, news agency ANP said.
Dutch virologist Ron Fouchier who led the research is included in the latest Time Magazine ranking of the 100 most influential people in the world.