A STALEMATE between countries hit by deadly H5N1 flu and others that want virus samples to make vaccines seems closer to ending.
As 91av went to press, member states of the World Health Organization meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, had agreed to find ways to share samples more fairly and planned to launch negotiations between the governments involved. However, it was not yet clear if this would persuade countries to start releasing vital samples of the virus again any time soon.
Last November, Indonesia stopped sending samples from people infected with H5N1 to foreign labs that work with the WHO. These labs track the virus’s evolution and allow companies to use them to develop vaccines. Indonesia says this is unfair, as it is unlikely to be able to buy vaccine based on its own virus (91av, 31 March, p 6).
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Consequently, it refused to send any more samples unless it was guaranteed access to resulting vaccines. Last week it sent samples to a Japanese lab, but from only two of the 15 Indonesian cases known since last November. Indonesian officials said further deliveries depended on the WHO “making progress” in resolving its problem.
“Further deliveries depend on the WHO making progress to resolve Indonesia’s problem”
Governments will discuss possible solutions in October, but Indonesia has not said whether it will send more samples before then. “We can’t wait for negotiations to finish,” a senior WHO official told 91av. “Viruses evolve too fast.”
