From the Canadian Press:
Indonesia’s recent refusal to share sample viruses of avian flu has triggered international concern and criticism from some quarters.But as Indonesia loudly objected, Asia’s giant quietly continued to hoard viruses that influenza experts need to monitor changes in the dangerous H5N1 family.
China has not shared human H5N1 virus samples since early 2006, the World Health Organization has confirmed.
China’s most recent shipment of human H5N1 isolates was sent to a WHO collaborating laboratory in the spring of 2006. But the newest sample contained in that shipment is said to have been taken from a Chinese patient infected more than a year ago, in late 2005 or early 2006. [Full Text]
