The Health Ministry resumed sending avian influenza virus (H5N1) samples obtained from humans, to the World Health Organization Global Influenza Surveillance Network (IGSN) after a long protest against perceived unfairness.

Ministry spokeswoman Lily Sulistyawati confirmed on Saturday Indonesia had begun sending virus samples again for the first time this year.

Twelve samples were sent to the Center for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) in Atlanta.

"We sent them on Wednesday. This reflects our intention to respect the current development in negotiations with WHO. The WHO has made a commitment to accommodate Indonesia's objection to unfair treatment," Lily said.

Lily, however, could not confirm if an agreement had been reached between the WHO and the Indonesian government.

The Indonesian government decided not to share virus isolate early last year following a perceived leakage in the 50-year-old GISN, as vaccine makers in developed countries could obtain isolates sent by Indonesia and produce flu vaccines based on the isolates.

Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari has repeatedly said poorer countries, like Indonesia which has been hit hardest by avian influenza, would suffer most for being unable to afford expensive vaccines produced by Western companies using isolates obtained from the GISN.

Siti has penned her long struggle with the perceived global injustice in a book titled Saatnya Dunia Berubah Tangan Tuhan dibalik Flu Burung or It's Time for the World to Change, Divine Hands behind Bird Flu. The English version of the book was withdrawn by the author less than one month after being released Feb. 6, citing inaccurate translations as the main reason.

While holding back its isolates, the Indonesian government demanded WHO reform its virus sharing protocol.

Despite an intensified public awareness campaign, since 2005, Indonesia has recorded 105 human fatalities from bird flu infection, the highest of any country in the world.

Experts fear a pandemic may occur if the virus mutates into a more virulent strain, transmittable from human to human.

Udayana University virologist and microbiologist I Gusti Ngurah Mahardika applauded the government decision to resume sharing virus isolates, saying it would accelerate ongoing efforts understand the mysteries of the virus.

"It's not just good news. It's the best news I've heard. We have to contribute to the global scientific effort to find ways to prevent a pandemic. It is important we know if this virus remains a poultry virus and not a mammal one -- which we fear could spread among humans," Mahardika said.

"For scientists, the exchange of biological materials like viruses, RNA, DNA and protein is a common practice and compulsory if it's for science purposes. Governments should have stayed out of this territory," he said.

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