US Demands Royalties on Influenza A(H1N1) Mexican Swine Flu Vaccine

Machinamentum · 05-21-2009, 08:08 PM

Thousands More Fall Ill as Pandemic Spreads

An intergovernmental meeting of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has failed to reach an agreement on sharing influenza virus research material and access to vaccines, with the US placing profits ahead of the threat of wide-scale, world-wide deaths from the current influenza A(H1N1),

The impasse occurred despite a warning by Dr Thirawat Hemachudha, director of the World Health Organisation's Collaborating Centre for Research and Training on Viral Zoonoses, that a second wave of the A(H1N1) influenza virus, or Mexican swine flu as it was originally termed, could

In the past week the number of people infected by the influenza A(H1N1) virus has risen sharply, with the United States recording the highest number of cases, followed by Mexico where the pandemic began.

On Saturday the WHO reported an additional seven deaths, raising the number of people killed by the influenza A(H1N1) virus to 72, with 1,000 new confirmed cases reported in the previous 24 hours.

India, Turkey, Japan, Ecuador, Peru, Belgium, Cuba, Finland and Thailand have all confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) in the last week.

According to Dr Thirawat, "the current situation is like a warning sign, reminding us that the big wave is coming. According to scientific records, the second wave should happen between two months to two years

As the number of people infected by the influenza A(H1N1) virus hit almost 8,500 cases in 38 countries, the two-day WHO meeting concluded with poorer countries dissatisfied with the stance of the US.

Indonesia, one of the countries hit in the outbreak, wanted vaccines produced by industrialised countries shared with developing nations which do not have the means to produce enough doses in case of a global pandemic.

Poor countries argued they should have access to the resulting vaccines, especially if the samples used to develop them came from the developing world. However, US delegates balked at this, insisting pharmaceutical companies should be able to claim the vaccines as intellectual property and earn royalties on them.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...1n1.html?cat=5

05-21-2009, 08:08 PM	#1
Machinamentum Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 413	US Demands Royalties on Influenza A(H1N1) Mexican Swine Flu Vaccine Thousands More Fall Ill as Pandemic Spreads An intergovernmental meeting of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has failed to reach an agreement on sharing influenza virus research material and access to vaccines, with the US placing profits ahead of the threat of wide-scale, world-wide deaths from the current influenza A(H1N1), The impasse occurred despite a warning by Dr Thirawat Hemachudha, director of the World Health Organisation's Collaborating Centre for Research and Training on Viral Zoonoses, that a second wave of the A(H1N1) influenza virus, or Mexican swine flu as it was originally termed, could In the past week the number of people infected by the influenza A(H1N1) virus has risen sharply, with the United States recording the highest number of cases, followed by Mexico where the pandemic began. On Saturday the WHO reported an additional seven deaths, raising the number of people killed by the influenza A(H1N1) virus to 72, with 1,000 new confirmed cases reported in the previous 24 hours. India, Turkey, Japan, Ecuador, Peru, Belgium, Cuba, Finland and Thailand have all confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) in the last week. According to Dr Thirawat, "the current situation is like a warning sign, reminding us that the big wave is coming. According to scientific records, the second wave should happen between two months to two years As the number of people infected by the influenza A(H1N1) virus hit almost 8,500 cases in 38 countries, the two-day WHO meeting concluded with poorer countries dissatisfied with the stance of the US. Indonesia, one of the countries hit in the outbreak, wanted vaccines produced by industrialised countries shared with developing nations which do not have the means to produce enough doses in case of a global pandemic. Poor countries argued they should have access to the resulting vaccines, especially if the samples used to develop them came from the developing world. However, US delegates balked at this, insisting pharmaceutical companies should be able to claim the vaccines as intellectual property and earn royalties on them. http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...1n1.html?cat=5