World Health Assembly debates sharing of bird flu viruses for vaccines

Tension between developed and developing countries over access to any vaccine for bird flu was much in evidence at the World Health Organization's World Health Assembly in Geneva last week.

Indonesia had stopping sharing virus samples in December 2006, alleging that a WHO collaborating centre had violated an agreement by turning over samples to third parties.

Battle lines were drawn between rich and poor countries during discussions at the assembly of preferential pricing, access to technology, and distribution on the basis of need. …