In the News: Indonesia says no to bird flu virus sharing

Indonesia will not share bird flu virus samples unless there is a guarantee developing nations will have control over their use and have access to cheap vaccines, a health ministry spokeswoman said on Monday.

Indonesia has held back its virus samples since August and wants guarantees from richer nations and drug-makers that poor countries get access to affordable vaccines derived from their samples.

Health officials from around the world failed to reach an agreement on a new virus sharing system at talks hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva last week.

Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari insisted on “equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of viruses” at the meeting, but not everyone agreed.

Indonesia, the country hardest hit by avian flu with 91 human deaths, wants a “material transfer agreement” (MTA) for each virus sample sent to foreign labs, that specifies the sample is used only for diagnostic purposes and not for commercial gain.

(Source)