Indonesia (still) refuses to share bird flu samples
March 26, 2007 by Grace Ibay
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Bird flu quote of the day: “We have the most virus and patients.”
- Indonesian health minister, Siti Fadillah Supari.
Not THAT is true. Indonesia definitely has the most virus and patients anywhere. The country has never been completely successful in stopping the spread of the bird flu virus, and continues to produce one outbreak after another and cases to this day. But what used to be Indonesia’s shame is now her leverage.
The country continues to refuse to share its bird flu vaccines with the World Health Organization, causing enough outrage to push the global body to call for a three-day vaccine conference.
Indonesia announced last February that it will no longer share its samples unless their country is guaranteed affordable access to vaccines, and for WHO to stop sharing them with commercial vaccine makers. It also wants asistance for poor nations in developing “domestic vaccine production”.
This move has gained support from other poor countries but criticism from the scientific community who fear of an H5N1 that might mutate into a dangerous virus.
“We must work together to change the perverse incentives that have resulted in developing countries being disadvantaged,” the Indonesian health minister, Siti Fadillah Supari, said today in her opening remarks.
Dr. David Heymann, WHO’s top flu official, said one short-term solution might be “stockpiles of pandemic vaccine in which industry would set aside a percentage of pandemic vaccine for developing country needs, with a guarantee of purchase from WHO.”
In response, Dr. Supari insisted on developing a locally placed collaborating center and vaccine factory “so there will be no need for the virus to be sent outside the country,” she said. “Why not? We have the most virus and patients.”
What do you think?
Should there be free-sharing of bird flu samples or was Indonesia right in calling for guarantees?
How should the WHO respond?
Tags: bird flu, virus, H5N1, Indonesia, World Health Organization, who, samples
