Word: indonesia
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...when pressed on exactly what Indonesia what it will take to get that "green light," Supari is less than specific. She says she doesn't necessarily need an agreement in "black and white" recognizing Indonesia's ownership rights, yet goes on to argue that Jakarta should have final say on any vaccines made from its viruses. For its part, the WHO has tried hard to accommodate Indonesia's objections. At a high-level meeting in Geneva late last month, the WHO raised the possibility of creating a virtual vaccine stockpile that developing countries might be able to draw upon...
...dispute has centered on future flu vaccines that might be used from Indonesian viruses, but in reality that question could be moot. If H5N1 in Indonesia were to mutate significantly tomorrow and begin passing easily from human to human, triggering a pandemic, the virus would spread around the world rapidly. Scientists would begin working on a vaccine based on the pandemic virus, but it currently takes about six months to produce a new flu vaccine. (By contrast, the most recent influenza pandemics in 1968 and 1957 crossed the globe in about four months - and that was before widespread jet travel...
...fully analyze the behavior and genetic structure of the bird flu virus, looking for the all-important mutation that might mean H5N1 is ready to go pandemic. (Currently H5N1 only rarely infects human beings, but flu viruses change constantly - hence the need for up-to-date analysis.) Since Indonesia is where most new human bird flu cases have been occurring - as one Jakarta official acknowledged with a twist of pride, "We do have the most deadly virus" - scientists need to see Indonesian samples. That can help them pinpoint exactly when a pandemic might be in its beginning stages, still early...
...Both sides expect the problem to be addressed at the World Health Assembly, the annual meeting of all 193 member nations of the WHO, which begins May 14. Indonesia has been weathering criticism of its response to bird flu since the outbreaks began, but the country will come under intense international pressure if it continues to abstain from sharing. One international health expert based in the region notes that Jakarta hasn't been shy about asking for international help in controlling the disease in chickens, claiming that bird flu had originated outside its borders. "But when it comes to sharing...
...Despite its recent refusal to share samples, Indonesia has actually been fairly open about bird flu and prompt in reporting new cases - considerably more so than China, which remains a "black hole of bird flu data," according to the expert. But that goodwill will be squandered unless Indonesia resumes sharing. Unfortunately, Jakarta may be digging in its heels. Supari told TIME that "the current unfair access to vaccines worsens the global inequality between the rich and the poor, between the North and the South - and I think that is more dangerous than a pandemic." Unless Jakarta changes its policy...