China holding back samples, says WHO

China's Ministry of Agriculture has come under fire from the World Health Organization for not sharing samples of a strain of bird flu first discovered in Fujian Province. Research released this week says the "Fujian-like" strain of H-5N1 has spread widely in the past year to become prevalent in Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia and Thailand, the South China Morning Post reported. However, the ministry has not shared any samples of the strain with the world body. "Unless the ministry tells us what's going on and shares viruses on a regular basis, we will be doing diagnostics on strains that are old," said Dr. Julie Hall, an infectious disease expert at the WHO's Beijing office. Complaints about lack of co-operation from Chinese officials from international officials are common.