November 27, 2007

Indonesia refuses to share bird flu samples

Indonesia refused to share its bird flu virus specimen unless rich countries guarantee that any pandemic vaccines developed from the virus would be affordable.

Indonesia, the nation hit with worst bird flu outbreak with 91 human deaths, held back its virus samples since August.

Health officials failed to reach an agreement on World Health Organization's (WHO) conference aimed at rebuilding a global system for sharing flu viruses.

Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari insisted on an "equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of viruses."

Supari asked WHO to re-vamp its 50-year-old virus sharing system so that developing countries that hand over samples retain the rights over their biological resources.

Indonesia proposed for a Material transfer Agreement (MTA) for each virus sample sent to foreign laboratories to specify the sample is used only for diagnostic purposes and not for commercial gain.

Under MTA, any commercial use of the virus would require prior consent of the country providing it. Jakarta said it would retain the intellectual property rights and allow access to global vaccine stockpiles at an affordable price.

Sharing samples has been deemed vital to examine if viruses have mutated, become drug resistant or grown more transmissible.

Jakarta shared just two specimens this year, both from Indonesian women who died in the popular tourist resort of Bali in August, according to the WHO.