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SCIENCESaturday 20 January 2018
Gov't scientists scramble to save research ahead of shutdown
By LAURAN NEERGAARD Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health speaks dur- "You have experiments attempts, the hurdles to
AP Medical Writer ing an AP Newsmaker interview in Washington, Thursday, Jan. that have been going on getting an HIV vaccine
WASHINGTON (AP) — The 18, 2018. for months if not years, and are "surmountable," but ex-
nation's premier medical then all of a sudden you've pect such a shot to be only
research institute is in "a Associated Press got to stop — you can't do partially effective. Even
scramble" to prepare for that," Fauci said. "You can't a vaccine that's 50 to 60
a partial government shut- described how researchers tial shutdown — and who push the pause button on percent effective "would
down that could ruin costly working on projects from would be barred. There's an experiment when you be a home run" because
experiments and leave sick cancer therapies to new also a potential ripple ef- inject an animal with a it could be combined
patients unable to enter vaccines are figuring out fect, because NIH funds particular substance to see with condoms, preventive
cutting-edge studies, Dr. how to try to save work in basic research and clini- what the response is and medications and other
Anthony Fauci of the Na- progress so it wouldn't go cal trials at universities and then you have to go home steps, Fauci said.
tional Institutes of Health to waste. other institutions across the for a week." "When you put even a
said Thursday. "It's a scramble," Fauci country. In a wide-ranging interview modestly effective HIV
Fauci stressed that patients said, offering a peek at Fauci, who directs the Na- Thursday, Fauci also said: vaccine together with all
currently in NIH-run stud- the practical impact of the tional Institute of Allergy — It's too soon to know of the other prevention
ies — including those at budget impasse. and Infectious Diseases, how well this year's flu vac- modalities, I think we could
the research-only hospital As at other federal agen- called the cycle of off- cine is protecting against put an end to the epidem-
often called the "house cies, NIH must determine and-on budget deals and the tough virus strain hit- ic. That's what I hope we
of hope" — wouldn't be who is an "essential" em- shutdown threats demoral- ting much of the country. can do at least while I'm
adversely affected even ployee and would report izing and disruptive to sci- Probably the flu shot will be still alive," he said.
if President Donald Trump to work if there is a par- ence. about 30 percent effec- —Science has the capabil-
and Congress don't reach tive, he estimated, and he ity, given the right resourc-
a budget deal to avert a said science must come es, to create vaccines for
shutdown at midnight Fri- up with better protection tuberculosis and malaria,
day. "We still take care of against the constantly mu- as well as HIV. Tackling all
them," Fauci, the NIH's in- tating virus. three, "you're talking about
fectious disease chief, told He is prioritizing develop- millions and millions of lives
The Associated Press. "You ment of a universal flu vac- per year that you'll be sav-
never want to put patients cine to protect against ing." —Zika may have fad-
in any jeopardy." both seasonal flu and su- ed from the headlines but
But new patients attempt- per-strains that can trigger if it rebounds in Latin Amer-
ing to enter studies of ex- pandemics. How soon? ica, NIH has "a vaccine
perimental therapies, of- "Years, not decades," he ready to go and prove
ten because they've failed said. Meanwhile, get the whether it's effective or
standard treatment, would regular flu vaccine: "Any not." Perhaps more impor-
have to be turned away, degree of protection is tant, it was made in a way
as happened during the better than no protection that NIH thinks could be
last government shutdown. at all." copied quickly to fend off
And across the NIH, Fauci —Despite years of failed other emerging viruses.q
Expert says major eruption in
Papua New Guinea could be soon
In this photo taken on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, ash plumes rise CANBERRA, Australia (AP) recently increased be- two boats to completely
from the volcano on Kadovar Island, Papua New Guinea in the — Seismic activity beneath neath the volcano. evacuate the 600 Kadovar
South Pacific. a Papua New Guinea vol- "The reason we're getting residents to the mainland.
cano could mean that a activity is probably be- He could not say whether
Associated Press major eruption was immi- cause new magma is mov- the evacuations of nearby
nent, a scientist said Thurs- ing up from deeper down," islands had been complet-
day. Saunders told Australian ed by Thursday.
Thousands of people have Broadcasting Corp. Papua New Guinea sits on
been evacuated from is- Prime Minister Peter O'Neill the "Ring of Fire," a line of
lands surrounding Kadovar has said state resources seismic faults encircling the
Island off the South Pacific were being made avail- Pacific that has frequent
nation's north coast since able to support evacua- earthquakes and volcanic
a volcano there began tions and he warned north- eruptions.q
erupting on Jan. 5, spout- ern coastal communities to
ing ash. Flights nearby be alert for possible tsuna-
have been canceled due mis. Kadovar is offshore to
to the risk posed by ash the north of New Guinea,
plumes and ships were the larger island that in-
warned to stay away from cludes Papua New Guin-
the island. ea's capital, Port Moresby.
Steve Saunders, principal Aikari Muri, the Internation-
geodetic surveyor at the al Red Cross' disaster risk
Rabaul Volcano Observa- management logistics offi-
tory in Papua New Guinea, cer for Papua New Guinea,
said seismic activity had said the military had used
