AlaskaDenise
In Memoriam
Indonesia has shared with the World Health Organization a sample of the H5N1 virus that killed a woman on Bali and has also culled 5,000 fowl in a bid to contain the outbreak, officials said Saturday.
Indonesia, the nation worst hit by bird flu with 83 human deaths, has in the past refused to share samples after accusing the global health body of misusing its specimens by sharing them with drug firms without its permission. Triono Soendoro, head of health research and development of health ministry, said samples of the virus had been shared partly because of the presence of so many foreign tourists on Bali.
"This is a courtesy from Indonesia. But it only for reassessment, for diagnostic purposes, not for future commercial use."
The official said the sample had been sent three days ago to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, which collaborates with the WHO.
But he said Indonesia would only send more virus samples if a fair mechanism was agreed with the WHO on sharing samples.
WHO officials have said Indonesia's failure to share bird flu samples raised the risks of a global pandemic.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/2007/08/19/118979/Indonesia-shares.htm
Indonesia, the nation worst hit by bird flu with 83 human deaths, has in the past refused to share samples after accusing the global health body of misusing its specimens by sharing them with drug firms without its permission. Triono Soendoro, head of health research and development of health ministry, said samples of the virus had been shared partly because of the presence of so many foreign tourists on Bali.
"This is a courtesy from Indonesia. But it only for reassessment, for diagnostic purposes, not for future commercial use."
The official said the sample had been sent three days ago to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, which collaborates with the WHO.
But he said Indonesia would only send more virus samples if a fair mechanism was agreed with the WHO on sharing samples.
WHO officials have said Indonesia's failure to share bird flu samples raised the risks of a global pandemic.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/2007/08/19/118979/Indonesia-shares.htm
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