Indonesia to reveal bird flu data

Indonesia is to reveal all the genetic information about the country's bird flu epidemic on a global database.

The country has been withholding virus samples and DNA data from the World Health Organisation for more than a year, which has made it impossible for scientists to see if the virus was mutating to a more serious form which could result in human-to-human transmission.

Indonesian health minister Siti Fadilah Supari had previously said that the database was unfair to developing countries and pharmaceutical companies could use the information to develop vaccines which would be too costly for people in Indonesia.

Ms Supari explained to Associated Press about her decision to reveal the information, saying: "We have always promoted the sharing of influenza data, all we ask for is that it be done in a fair, transparent and equitable manner."

Figures from the World Health Organisation show that there have been 133 cases of bird flu in Indonesia with 108 deaths from the disease.

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