WHO fails to reach deal on sharing bird flu virus

Reuters 23 Nov 07;

GENEVA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Health officials have failed to reach agreement on a new system to ensure developing countries benefit more from sharing bird flu viruses used to develop vaccines, the World Health Organisation said on Friday.

"Nobody can fault you for not trying ... It is so close, yet so far away," WHO director-general Margaret Chan told the final session of a four-day meeting. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Jonathan Lynn)