UPDATED - Biological Warfare? Ivory Coast-born Scientist Arrested For Attempting To Smuggle Ebola DNA Into USA

UPDATE: 

In the first article, he is referred to as a Canadian Scientist. He was born in the Ivory Coast, which is home to a large Muslim population, and is known for it's Mosques.

via Breitbart 

The Ivory Coast-born scientist is said to have studied at Laval University in Quebec and briefly worked at the University of Manitoba's plant sciences department ...

Pamela has the story on the Canadian Scientist arrested at the border, attempting to smuggle 22 vials of the genetic structure for Ebola into the U.S.

Amaros sent this with the following key observations, "the story says that this was not a dangerous shipment. True in the sense that these vials did not contain the virus per se (he had no access to that) but they contained the genetic codes for the virus, which is required for manufacture. The CBC reported the gene info just now but stressed that this material is for producing vaccines. If you can make the vaccine, you can make the disease.

So while he claims he was taking them to help his new research, he could have also sold them to terrorists with labs.

He is facing 20 years jail. They don't give that to plagiarists."

Canadian scientist arrested for smuggling vials for Ebola research into U.S.

A Canadian scientist was stopped at the U.S. border last week after authorities found 22 vials used in Ebola research from Canada's National Microbiology Lab in his possession, officials said Wednesday.

The incident has sparked controversy and serious questions about security protocols at the Winnipeg lab that contains some of the world's most deadliest pathogens.

Konan Michel Yao, 42, was apprehended by U.S. officials as he attempted to enter the United States at the Pembina, N.D., border crossing from Manitoba on May 5.

Yao faces U.S. criminal charges for smuggling and is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals service.

[...]

"There was a small amount of genetic material from the Ebola virus in the material that he took off with, but it posed no risk of infection and no risk to the health of the public," he said.

"It's basically genetic material, some of which had an Ebola gene in it. It's just a gene. It's not infectious. The only thing he could've done with it was make an Ebola vaccine."

Her Royal Whyness has provided us with additional information which makes the case for the possibility that an amateur biologist could manufacture a virus which linked Ebola and the Swine Flu:

here are some related links . . .one notes that ebola "doesn't spread quickly or far, because it kills its victims so swiftly."  Now consider the potential of a mfg. virus . . .ebola linked to a flu virus - used as a weapon.  YIKES! Amateur Biological Research Raises Security Concerns Amateur Biological Research Raises Security Concerns Wednesday, May 13, 2009 The growing market for preassembled DNA and public access to genetic blueprints for smallpox, Ebola and other diseases have raised concerns that an individual might build a devastating biological threat from scratch, the Wall Street Journal reported today (see GSN, Dec. 24, 2008).  (May. 13) - A Hawaii-based microbiologist prepares to inject DNA into plant cells in 2002. Experts worry that amateurs could produce deadly pathogens while conducting biological research on their own (Phil Mislinski/Getty Images). Synthetic DNA is routinely sought out by professional biologists as well as "biohackers," typically well-intentioned hobbyists who tinker with the genetic material of simple organisms. However, existing biological material regulations leave open the risk that a skilled amateur could construct a dangerous pathogen, scientists and FBI officials warned in a Nature Biotechnology article published two years ago. "Current government oversight of the DNA-synthesis industry falls short of addressing this unfortunate reality," the article said. The federal government should require firms that market synthetic DNA to watch for suspicious orders, according to the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity. Washington should also mandate that amateur and professional biologists obtain a license before buying DNA, added George Church, a Harvard University genetics professor. The FBI is attempting to communicate biological security risks to academic institutions and private industry, "particularly in light of the expansion of affordable molecular biology equipment" and genetic data, said a high-level official in the bureau's Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate. One new graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said the threat is being overblown. Amateur researchers hope to "build a slingshot ... and there are people out there talking about, oh, no, what happens if they move on to nuclear weapons?" said Katherine Aull, who is seeking to further cancer research through work with a transformed E.coli at her apartment  (Jeanne Whalen, Wall Street Journal, May 13). Flu criticism appears undeserved Calgary Herald - ‎May 12, 2009‎ A truly ghastly virus like Ebola, for example, doesn't spread quickly or far, because it kills its victims so swiftly. The common cold, on the other hand, ... Texas Senate OKs Bill Restricting Access to Biological Agent ... Global Security Newswire - ‎May 7, 2009‎ Releasing information on anthrax, Ebola and other "select agents" -- biological materials that pose a significant threat to human, animal and plant health ... Groups fight biolab secrecy bill Daily News - Galveston County Bushmeat found in luggage at NJ airport United Press International - ‎May 10, 2009‎ ... known commonly as bushmeat, cannot be transported into the United States as such foods can contain possible viruses like Ebola and monkeypox. ... Bats may be linked in Philippines Ebola cases AFP - ‎Apr 27, 2009‎ Eric Tayag, the head of the Philippine health department's national epidemiology centre, the experts will be looking for the source of the Ebola-Reston ...