HAVE U OF E RESEARCHERS

     CREATED SUPER AIDS VIRUS?


Palo Alto: University of Emmetsburg researchers have isolated the entire AIDS virus genome and transplanted it into a hog. Although the experiment was conducted in secrecy, the entire process was described by Cal Weaver in his 1995 graduate thesis. A shocked library student discovered the thesis last month while reorganizing the shelves in the thesis section of the library.

     "The book fell off the shelf and I noticed the words 'AIDS' and 'Hog' on the same page and I got curious," said Librarian Stacey Stigman. "I was shocked at what I was reading and I checked it out and turned it over to the Provost immediately."

     A full investigation is now being conducted into the Hog study, with Weaver's thesis as the lynch pin. According to the paper, the virus unexpectedly combined with native retroviruses in the swine creating an entirely new strain. The test pigs were destroyed and the bodies incinerated, however there is great concern that the new virus could have been airborne and may have already infected Weaver and the research team. None of them could be reached for comment.





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