Indonesia is still limiting sharing its bird flu virus sample with the World Health Organization. Bayu Krisnamurthi, Head of the national commission dealing with bird flu, said Indonesia would only send virus samples on a case-by-case basis until a new virus sharing mechanism currently being drawn up by the WHO took effect.
Indonesia is the nation worst hit by H5N1 avian influenza, with 129 human cases and 105 fatalities.
After a 6-month standoff Indonesia sent bird flu virus samples last month to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), after it was given the assurance that it would get access to affordable vaccines.
The health ministry decides whether or not to send samples, Mr. Bayu said.
Last year Indonesia drew international concern when it defied protocol and refused to share its virus samples last year, saying it wanted guarantees from richer nations and drug makers that poor countries would get access to affordable vaccines derived from their samples.
Talks hosted by the WHO last year in Geneva failed to reach an agreement on a new virus-sharing system, and the impasse only seemed to case when Indonesia handed over samples last month.
Mr Krisnamurthi said bird flu had cost Indonesia IDR 4.1 trillion (USD 446.6 million) since 2004 and this excludes the loss of jobs and reduction in protein consumption among the population.
Source : Asian Poultry, May 2008 edition.
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