Bird flu summit warns of global rich-poor divide

The great divide between the rich and the poor would be catastrophic in the event of a global flu pandemic, Mexico’s health minister said yesterday, and called on developed nations to put aside some of their influenza drugs for the less influential ones.

“I think the ethical, the political, the future security implications of the situation where only the wealthy countries have access to vaccines and drugs would be unimaginable,” said Mexico’s Julio Frenk, speaking on the sidelines of conference to prepare for a global flu pandemic.