Special report: Global fight against bird flu

     JAKARTA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- A high level international meeting on anti-bird flu Wednesday called on developing countries to equitably share and disseminate information data and biological specimens related to influenza and their benefits.

    The appeal was made in the Jakarta Declaration, which was passed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and 16 attending countries at the meeting on responsible practices for sharing avian influenza viruses and resulting benefits held in Jakarta on Wednesday.

    In the development and production of vaccine, the declaration called on all the members of WHO, especially the developed countries, donated agencies and Western medicine companies, to accelerate preparedness and response to the threat of pandemic avian influenza for all countries.

    It also asked for the endorsement of the "Recommendations on Responsible Practices for Sharing Avian Influenza Viruses and Resulting Benefits", which was developed in the high level technical meeting ended on March 27 in Jakarta.

    The results of the meeting will be presented to a WHO Executive Council meeting on May 9, which will hopefully adopt them as guidelines for all WHO member countries.

    As the most badly hit country by bird flu, the death toll of AI victims in Indonesia has risen to 69 until Wednesday.