China Has Withheld Samples of a Dangerous Flu Virus (nytimes.com)

For over a year, the Chinese government has withheld lab samples of a rapidly evolving influenza virus from the United States -- specimens needed to develop vaccines and treatments, according to federal health officials, The New York Times reports. From the story: Despite persistent requests from government officials and research institutions, China has not provided samples of the dangerous virus, a type of bird flu called H7N9 [Editor's note: the link maybe paywalled; alternative source]. In the past, such exchanges have been mostly routine under rules established by the World Health Organization. Now, as the United States and China spar over trade, some scientists worry that the vital exchange of medical supplies and information could slow, hampering preparedness for the next biological threat. The scenario is "unlike shortages in aluminum and soybeans," said Dr. Michael Callahan, an infectious disease specialist at Harvard Medical School. "Jeopardizing U.S. access to foreign pathogens and therapies to counter them undermines our nation's ability to protect against infections which can spread globally within days." Experts concur that the world's next global pandemic will likely come from a repeat offender: the flu. The H7N9 virus is one candidate.

Comments

So this is how Trump wind up destroying the world?

[Anonymous Coward]

Got to admit.... didn't see that one coming. Bravo, well played.

Don't worry, the Great Negotiator will get it

[Anonymous Coward]

Just like his great negotiating skills have gotten Affordable Healthcare repealed, even with a majority in both the House and Senate.

And The Wall.

ayup.

Rockerfeller CDC has much much more

[Anonymous Coward]

And they routinely spread and create diseases to the public. See HIV for an easy example of a lab created virus distributed by the CDC.

Walls

[Oswald McWeany]

What we need is more walls to keep the birds from flying into this country and spreading flu.

Re:First line could use editing

[sehlat]

"For over a year, the Chinese government has withheld lab samples of an influenza virus from a rapidly evolving threat, the United States."

A super-spy could retrieve the virus

[93 Escort Wagon]

This sounds like a job for James Bond.

In the chinese calendar it's

[goombah99]

it's the year of the Twelve monkeys