There are concerns that previously unknown viruses, as deadly as Aids, could pass from genetically-modified animal organs into their human hosts. The Council of Europe voted in January for a moratorium on clinical tests of animal organ transplants into human beings until more is known about the potential hazards. Dr Paul Layman and Dr Mark Matfield discuss xenotransplantation The DLRM will tell the Thursday's London conference that there should be a global ban on such techniques. DLRM President Dr Andre Menache, who works for the Israeli Ministry of Health, warned that pigs carry many viruses that are potentially lethal. Dr Menache highlighted the recent deaths of 100 people in Malaysia after being bitten by mosquitoes carrying a virus thought to come from pigs.
Xenotransplantation is a public health risk.
We are a long, long way from solving the problem of viral transmission, and it would not be fair to expose the entire population to risk even if Joe Soap is prepared to take the risk himself and undergo such a transplant. DLRM says laboratory-bred pig organs differ from human organs in their longevity, their metabolism and their resistance to disease. They also carry a whole range of known and unknown viral and even sub-viral particles, some of which cannot be picked up, however careful the screening procedures. DLRM says all the patients died shortly after surgery. The alliance is holding a press conference on Thursday to publicise its campaign.