#205
The ongoing dispute between the WHO (World Health Organization) and China over the genetic sequences of Avian flu continues, although there has apparently been a small breakthrough. China reportedly has agreed, after two years of refusals, to send 20 samples of the avian flu virus to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) for further study.
While this is progress (when graded on the curve), it isn’t much.
The samples that will be surrendered are from 2004 and 2005, according to Reuters reportage.
"We are very encouraged by that. They are viruses from 2004 and 2005, and we will make follow-ups for the 2006 samples," Henk Bekedam, the WHO's China representative, told Reuters.
Interesting that they are not releasing any new samples, given the fact that they are denying, in the strongest possible terms, any suggestion that a new strain of the virus has emerged in China over the past year.
The Fujian-like strain, which was announced in a paper published last week by Hong Kong and U.S. researchers, reportedly has spread rapidly throughout much of china over the past 15 months, an assertion that Jia Youling, China's chief veterinary officer, vehemently denies.
"The data cited in the article was unauthentic, and the research methodology was not based on science. In fact, there is no such thing as a new 'Fujian-like' virus variant at all," Jia said.
"It is utterly groundless to assert that the outbreak of bird flu in Southeast Asian countries was caused by avian influenza in China and there would be a new outbreak wave in the world."
The WHO has said its understanding of this new strain has been hampered by China's refusal to share bird flu samples. It is hard to see how a handful of samples from 2004 and 2005 will clarify matters much.
While this diplomatic kabuki dance continues, the virus, now endemic in many parts of the world, never sleeps. It keeps doing what influenza viruses do.
It multiplies, mutates, and invades new hosts.
And it doesn’t give a damn about diplomacy, timetables, or transparency.
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