Meeting Seeks Global Consensus, Highlights Global Disparities

Abstract

In November 2005, diplomats and health experts from more than 110 countries and a dozen international organizations expressed their worries about the threatof a influenza pandemic. Although many pleaded for global solidarity, some glaring disparities remain, in particular, the meeting highlighted the rift between rich and poor countries. Western nations are stockpiling antiviral drugs including Tamiflu and developing vaccines, leaving poor and middle-income countries to worry that they would not have access to these potential lifesavers.