WHO puts back decision on smallpox virus samples

Well, this is the answer to the disputes!
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Posted: 24 May 2011

GENEVA - After two days of dispute over the future of smallpox virus samples, member states of the World Health Organization decided Tuesday to postpone their negotiations on the issue for three years.

In a draft resolution put forward on Monday to the 193 WHO member states, Russia and the US sought to conserve the samples, and wanted to begin discussing a possible date for their destruction only in five years.

Many countries, however, want them destroyed as soon as possible and, with no deal in sight after two days, the member states decided to look to the 67th World Health Assembly in three years' time to reexamine the subject.

The question surrounding the destruction of the last official stocks of the deadly virus held by US and Russian laboratories has been recurring at the WHO since 1986.

Washington and Moscow want the viruses kept for scientific reasons, saying that it is necessary to continue research on their vaccines in order to prevent any resurgence of the transmissible disease which was officially eradicated in 1980.

They fear, in particular, that countries may have secretly kept the virus to be used as a biological weapon.

The European Union, Canada, Israel, Monaco, Colombia and China were among countries that support the US and Russia.

However, Iran speaking on behalf of 20 countries, as well as Thailand, Zimbabwe and Malaysia, were strongly against, saying that immediate destruction of the virus must be imposed.

- AFP/al


Taken from ChannelNewsAsia.com; source article is below:
WHO puts back decision on smallpox virus samples

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Row at WHO meet over future of smallpox virus samples

Now, this may be a late news, but it is worth keeping (and reading)...
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Posted: 23 May 2011

GENEVA - The World Health Organisation on Monday held a stormy discussion over the future of smallpox virus samples, which Russia and the United States are seeking to preserve while others want them destroyed.

The question surrounding the destruction of the last official stocks of the deadly virus held by the US and Russian laboratories has been recurring at the WHO since 1986.

Washington and Moscow want the viruses kept for scientific reasons, saying that it is necessary to continue research on their vaccines in order to prevent any resurgence of the transmissible disease which was eradicated in 1979.

They fear, in particular, that countries may have secretly kept the virus to be used as a biological weapon.

In a draft resolution put forward on Monday to the 193 WHO member states, Russia and the US once again sought to conserve the samples, and wanted to begin discussing a possible date for their destruction only in five years.

"We feel that we do not have sufficient guarantees on the efficiency and the preparation of the vaccines," explained the Russian envoy.

"Destruction will be irreversible," he added, noting that it is necessary to be "doubly prudent on a question that concerns security of all humanity."

"After the research, we can determine a date," he added.

The European Union, Canada, Israel, Monaco, Colombia and China were among countries that supported the move.

However, some 20 countries, including north African states, Iran, Thailand, Zimbabwe and Malaysia, were strongly against the resolution, saying that immediate destruction of the virus must be imposed.

"There is no longer scientific justification to keep these viruses," said a Malaysian diplomat.

"It's been 30 years since we agreed to keep the stocks," noted an Iranian envoy. "It is about time to fix a definitive date" to eradicate them.

Amid the discord, the WHO decided to create a working group to work towards a compromise draft later Monday.

- AFP/al


Taken from ChannelNewsAsia.com; source article is below:
Row at WHO meet over future of smallpox virus samples

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Workers, firms benefit from paid sick leave: study

Image by jungmoon via FlickrI didn't know this, or at least this is to say that there are some companies, perhaps small ones, that don't allow paid sick leave.

this study finds out that providing for workers a paid sick leave is beneficial.

Read on...
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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS May 20, 2011, 11:06AM ET
By BRUCE SHIPKOWSKI
TRENTON, N.J.

Providing paid sick leave for all New Jersey workers would provide public health benefits as well as financial benefits for businesses, a study found.

Rutgers University's Center for Women and Work, which released the study findings on Thursday, found more than 1.2 million private sector workers in New Jersey don't get paid sick days.

If ailing workers know they can stay home and still be paid, they'll be able to get earlier and preventive health care and would be more likely to avoid costly visits to hospital emergency rooms, its authors concluded. They said that would reduce health care costs and allow workers to return to the job sooner.

"People without paid sick leave often have to choose between going to work sick and paying their bills. This highlights a disconnect between common sense measures that can aid public health and current policies," said Jonathan Heller of Human Impact Partners, a California-based organization focusing on health issues. "We must not only see (providing paid sick days) as good labor policy, but as good public health policy."

Proponents say they're not aware of any lawmakers who are planning to introduce such legislation, though they remain hopeful it will get more attention in the near future.

But the New Jersey Business and Industry Association says mandating paid sick leave would have a "serious, negative effect" on small businesses.

"Most large firms already provide it, so it really is a small business issue. And most small businesses either can't afford to do it or don't have enough people to cover shifts that need to be covered or perform duties that need to be done," associated President Phil Kirschner said. "Small companies also tend to be more flexible on these matters, so not providing paid sick days doesn't mean they don't accommodate employees when they're sick."

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Taken from businenessweek.com; source article is below:
Study: Workers, firms benefit from paid sick leave

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