From Reuters, via ABC News:
The World Health Organization urged China on Friday to share samples from its bird flu outbreaks in animals and warned that human cases could be going unreported because of its weak healthcare system.
Shigeru Omi, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, said no viruses had been made available from China’s 31 reported outbreaks in poultry this year, despite requests to the Ministry of Agriculture.
“If we received these samples from animals we would know what kind of changes the virus is undergoing, which is very, very vital in fighting against any potential pandemic,” Omi told a news conference.
“Time is of the essence,” he said.
