Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Diagnosis Turns Complicated With SARS Virus Patent

by Dr. Enozia Vakil on May 24, 2013 at 9:00 PM
 Diagnosis Turns Complicated With SARS Virus Patent

The news SARS-like virus, which claimed the lives of 22 people worldwide in less than a year, is now patented by foreign drug companies, thereby slowing down the diagnosis process.

"We are still struggling with diagnostics and the reason is that the virus was patented by scientists and is not allowed to be used for investigations by other scientists," said Saudi Deputy Health Minister Ziad Memish.

Advertisement

He told diplomats gathered in Geneva for the World Health Assembly, the UN health agency's decision-making body, that the coronavirus that first emerged last June had been "sent out of the country."

"It was patented, and contracts were signed with vaccine companies and anti-viral drug companies" which now need to give their approval every time another lab wants to use the virus, he said.
Advertisement

"I think strongly that the delay in the development of .... diagnostic procedures is related to the patenting of the virus," Memish said.

WHO chief Margaret Chan expressed outrage at the information.

"Why would your scientists send specimens out to other laboratories on a bilateral manner and allow other people to take intellectual property right on new disease?" she asked.

"Any new disease is full of uncertainty," she said, urging the WHO's 194 member states to only share "viruses and specimens with WHO collaborating centres, ... not in a bilateral manner."

"I will follow it up. I will look at the legal implications together with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. No IP (intellectual property) should stand in the way of you, the countries of the world, to protect your people," she told the delegates to thundering applause.

So far, there have been 44 lab-confirmed cases worldwide of the virus which until now has been known as the novel coronavirus, or nCoV-EMC, but which this week was redubbed the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS CoV).

Saudi Arabia by far counts the most cases, with 30 confirmed infections and 17 fatalities, while cases have also been detected in Jordan, Qatar, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Britain and France.

The virus is a cousin of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which triggered a scare 10 years ago when it erupted in east Asia, leaping to humans from animal hosts and eventually killing some 800 people.

Like SARS, the new virus appears to cause an infection deep in the lungs, with patients suffering from a temperature, cough and breathing difficulty, but it differs from SARS in that it also causes rapid kidney failure.

Memish stressed Thursday that a lot of uncertainty remains around how the virus spreads and what symptoms to look for, pointing out that some patients have instead of respiratory difficulties shown signs like diarrhoea and vomiting.

He also said diagnoses were problematic and in some cases tests needed to be performed two or even three times.

Source: AFP
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Lifestyle and Wellness News

Social Media Reshapes New Parenting Journeys
Amid the challenges of caring for newborns and toddlers, a study notes a rising trend of new parents seeking social media's help for managing their children.
Social Isolation With No Family & Friends Visits Linked to Mortality Risk
Lack of friends and family visits is tied to a 39% increased risk of mortality that can be used to develop effective therapies associated with social isolation.
Sunscreen & Its Pseudoeffects of Sun Protection
Compared to wearing sun-protective clothes and avoiding the sun, using sunscreen is the least effective way to prevent sunburn on the skin.
How Fruit & Vegetable Microbiomes Benefit Human Gut Health?
Bacterial diversity in the human gut is benefited by eating fruit and vegetables with microorganisms of probiotic and health-promoting characteristics.
Surprising Independence of Weight Loss
New research challenges the common notion that couples achieve better weight loss results.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Diagnosis Turns Complicated With SARS Virus Patent Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests