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After criticism, Brazil transferring Zika samples to US After criticism, Brazil transferring Zika samples to US
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — Brazil says it is sending a set of samples related to the Zika outbreak to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an announcement that follows criticism over the country’s hoarding of disease data and biological material. LONDON — Brazilian officials say they’re sending a set of samples related to the Zika outbreak to the United States, a move which follows complaints that the country was hoarding disease data and biological material.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that researchers across the world were being starved of access to Zika virus samples and information, with many countries relying on older strains from outbreaks in the Pacific and Africa for tests and research. Thursday’s announcement came only hours after The Associated Press revealed that international health officials were frustrated at Brazil’s refusal to share enough viral samples and other information to answer the most worrying question about the outbreak: Whether the disease is truly causing a spike in babies born with abnormally small heads.
The World Health Organization and Brazilian health officials told the AP that legal issues were complicating the sharing of data. U.S. and U.N. officials told AP that Brazil probably shared fewer than 20 samples when experts say hundreds or thousands of samples are needed to track the virus’ evolution and develop accurate diagnostics, drugs and vaccines. Many countries’ national laboratories are relying on older strains from outbreaks in the Pacific and Africa, the AP found.
On Thursday, Brazil’s health ministry said it had just wrapped up Zika field work with an American team and would be shipping two-thirds of the material gathered to the United States. After the story’s publication, the World Health Organization sent out a flurry of messages acknowledging that existing data-sharing mechanisms were deficient.
“Given the complexity of unanswered questions on Zika & (associated) disease, our goal is to encourage all researchers to share their data ASAP,” the WHO said in a message posted to Twitter. “Rapid data sharing is critical during an unfolding health emergency,” it said.
In a statement posted to its website, Brazil’s health ministry said that two-thirds of the material gathered during recent field work with an American team would be shipped to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“This measure has been submitted to the National Committee of Ethics in Research which approved the project in full,” the statement said.
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Online:
Brazil’s announcement: http://bit.ly/1PEEQSI
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.