Virology Journal
![]() | |
Discipline | Virology |
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Language | English |
Edited by | Robert F. Garry |
Publication details | |
History | 2004–present |
Publisher | |
Frequency | Rolling |
Yes | |
License | Creative Commons Attribution Generic 2.0 |
2.440 (2009) | |
Standard abbreviations | |
ISO 4 | Virol. J. |
Indexing | |
ISSN | 1743-422X |
OCLC no. | 56433791 |
Links | |
The Virology Journal is an open-access peer-reviewed scientific journal published by BioMed Central.[1] It publishes research related to viruses and the prevention of viral infection (including vaccination, the use of antiviral agents, and gene therapy). The journal was founded in 2004 and is edited by Robert F. Garry. The journal specifically aims to cover rapid communications amongst virologists.
Bible influenza controversy
On 21 July 2010, Kam L. E. Hon, Pak C. Ng, and Ting F. Leung published an article titled "Influenza or not influenza: Analysis of a case of high fever that happened 2000 years ago in Biblical time".[2] According to Mark 1:29–33 and Matthew 8:14–15, the mother-in-law of Simon Peter "lay sick" with a febrile illness. Jesus then took her by the hand and the fever immediately left. This is also described in Luke 4:38–39. The authors rule out that the woman was possessed by demons, and conclude that she was struck with influenza as "the fever retreated instantaneously. This implies that the disease was probably not a severe acute bacterial infection (such as septicemia) or subacute endocarditis that would not resolved instantaneously" [sic].
This article created controversy amongst scientists, who decried the article from anywhere from "truly bizarre"[3] to "garbage",[4] as well as expressed puzzlement over how the article got published in the first place.[3][4][5] The editor in chief of Virology Journal originally commented that the submission underwent standard peer review, and was recommended to be accepted after modification by both reviewers, but later apologized for the publication of the article and announced that it would be retracted.[6] The article was retracted on 13 August 2010.[7]
Ellis Hon, the paper's lead author, told Retraction Watch that he agreed to the retraction after the amount of negative publicity it generated.[8]
Indexing
Virology Journal is abstracted and indexed in
References
- ^ "About Virology Journal". Virology Journal. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ^
Kam LE Hon, Pak C Ng and Ting F Leung (2010). "Influenza or not influenza: Analysis of a case of high fever that happened 2000 years ago in Biblical time". Virology Journal. 7: 169. doi:10.1186/1743-422X-7-169. PMC 2918564. PMID 20663162.
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: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ a b Tara C. Smith (10 August 2010). "Biblical fever = influenza. You're kidding me, right?". Aetiology. Science Blogs. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ^ a b PZ Myers (11 August 2010). "But what if she had vapors, or an imbalance of humors?". Pharyngula. Science Blogs. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ^ Bob O'Hara (10 August 2010). "The Virology of Christ". This Scientific Life. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- ^ Robert Garry. "Influenza or not influenza: Analysis of a case of high fever that happened 2000 years ago in Biblical time – Comments". Virology Journal. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ^
Kam LE Hon, Pak C Ng and Ting F Leung (2010). "Retraction: Influenza or not influenza: Analysis of a case of high fever that happened 2000 years ago in Biblical time". Virology Journal. 7 (1): 190. doi:10.1186/1743-422X-7-190. PMID 20707907.
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: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Ivan Oransky (12 August 2010). "The shroud of retraction: Virology Journal withdraws paper about whether Christ cured a woman with flu". Retraction Watch. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
Further reading
- Robert F. Garry (2004). "Virology on the Internet: the time is right for a new journal". Virology Journal. 1: 1. doi:10.1186/1743-422X-1-1. PMC 524032. PMID 15507150.
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: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)