A group of global public health and influenza experts at a WHO-summoned meeting reached consensus on Friday, extending the temporary moratorium on making public the entire manuscripts of new laboratory-modified H5N1 viruses.

Two research groups, one in the Netherlands and the other based in the United States, have created versions of the H5N1 influenza virus which are more transmissible in mammals than the H5N1 virus that occurs naturally.

The meeting was convened to address the rising public concerns over possible disastrous effect of making available to all detailed information about such dangerous virus.

"Given the high death rate associated with this virus -- 60 percent of all humans who have been infected have died -- all participants at the meeting emphasized the high level of concern with this flu virus in the scientific community and the need to understand it better with additional research," says Dr Keiji Fukuda, Assistant Director-General of Health Security and Environment for the World Health Organization.

"There is a preference from a public health perspective for full disclosure of the information in these two studies. However there are significant public concern surrounding this research that should first be addressed," Fukuda added.

WHO said further talks will be carried out over these research studies at future meetings which will include participation by a broader range of experts and relevant parties.