Bird Flu Research Must be Shared
Written by Stuart Stevens | Monday, 12 May 2008 | There are 0 comments
the results of clinical studies concerning the virus are kept in great secret 
According to Keiji Fukuda who is the WHO’s coordinator of global influenza it was essential that there was a clear change in the attitude of scientists with regard to the flow of information. He was talking at a conference organised by the WHO to discuss different ways to “boost their defences” in the event of an all out bird flu pandemic. More than 150 scientists attended the conference from 30 different nations around the world.
Much of the funding that goes into research for a vaccine for the H5N1 bird influenza virus comes from huge drug companies and therefore they are keen to safeguard their investments by holding onto the information that they have. By letting other scientists make use of the research they could give other drug companies a head start in coming up with a blockbuster vaccine. On the other hand however by not allowing free access to the information could mean that it takes more time for a suitable vaccine to be developed and this could potentially cost millions of lives.
The Indonesian government has also highlighted the fact that drug companies patent their research which means that other scientists are not allowed to make use of it without paying royalties. The Indonesian government therefore will not freely hand over bird flu samples to the World Health Organisation unless assurances are given that the Indonesian people will be able to buy bird flu medications deriving from their samples very cheaply.
