Singapore:Researchers have articulated that controversial experiments with mutant viruses could lead to accidental epidemics.

Scientists are altering the natural strains of viruses to study their pathology but researchers from the Yale University are skeptical, that the benefits by such experiments are outweighed by the risk of pathogenic strains escaping from laboratories and spreading worldwide.

In a report published on Tuesday, it was enumerated that if 10 high-containment labs in the US, performed such experiments for over a decade, there is a 20 percent chance that one person is infected through whom the virus may spread to the entire world.

Mr Marc Lipstich, epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health, said, that even though there were remote chances of such an occurrence, still the potential was pandemic.

He further urged that while allocating funds to research, a comprehensive risk assessment of the study must be made by US government and other funding bodies.

The US government had also taken steps and revised guidelines which elaborated that funds will be allocated only if the potential benefits from it are substantial and the risks considered to be manageable. However, Mr Lipstich, showed apprehension over the guideline and affirmed that funding to controversial work continues without risk assessments.

Simon Wain-Hobson, a virologist at the Pasteur Institute in Paris said that scientists must be less defensive and must thoroughly examine all aspects of study before engaging in such research.