WHO asks China to release bird flu samples

CHINA - A senior World Health Organization official complained Friday that China has not shared with his agency any samples of a deadly bird flu virus strain from its dozens of outbreaks, saying the country was key to the global war against disease.

The lethal H5N1 strain has killed at least 71 people in Asia since 2003. China last week reported its sixth human infection and its 26th reported outbreak in poultry since Oct. 19. Two people have died in China from the disease.

"The sharing of information must be timely, regular and global," Shigeru Omi, Asia-Pacific director for WHO, said in a statement handed out at the start of a news conference. "From the more than 30 reported outbreaks in animals from 2005, no (Chinese) viruses have been made available so far."

Source: mlive.com
calendar icon 23 December 2005
clock icon 1 minute read
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