What would it take for you to volunteer to be injected with a live influenza virus? $100? $1,000?

How about $3,000? That's the amount these research scientists are willing to pay volunteers to willingly catch the influenza virus.

It may sound bizarre, but researchers want to know more about mystery surrounding the human body's response to the flu in various stages of the infection.

Dr. Matthew Memoli of the National Institutes of Health is on a mission to infect 100 people with the latest strain of influenza. His goal is to study the initial stage of the virus and how the body reacts. From this information, he say, it is possible to build better vaccines.

Not a bad idea considering that people who carry the influenza virus are contagious for up to two days before feeling any symptoms.

To avoid infecting others, participants must spend at least nine days quarantined inside the isolation ward at the hospital, during which time the patient is closely monitored.

I received a very scolding email from my mother"- Daniel Bennett, 26, study participant

Having contracted influenza A at the end of 2012, I can't say I would volunteer. That was a pretty rough week. Although $3,000 would go a long way...

So...would you?

source: CBS News

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