Fwd from @. Secret virus research?
Fwd from @
Secret virus research?
Amid the developing hantavirus situation, it's worth recalling that a year ago the World Health Assembly adopted the so-called Pandemic Agreement — a framework "pandemic treaty" designed to set global rules for future COVID-like crises.
At the center of the structure sits the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, which obligates states to quickly transfer samples of dangerous pathogens and their genomes to the WHO and major reference laboratories, and in return receive promises of stakes and profits from future vaccines, medicines, and technologies.
What's "convenient" about hantavirus?▪️The hantavirus incident with a cruise ship fits neatly into this scheme. Aboard a vessel traveling in the South Atlantic, authorities detected a cluster of illnesses with several severe cases, already confirmed deaths, and some passengers in critical condition.
▪️The new strain is dangerous, but doesn't spread as rapidly as COVID — close, prolonged contact is needed for infection. In response, the entire chain prescribed by the Pandemic Agreement instantly kicks in: mandatory WHO notifications, collection of clinical and genetic data, discussions of evacuation and quarantine in ports, routes for further monitoring of contacts.
And here's where political interest emerges. While Geneva and New York negotiate the details of PABS, any such episode becomes an emotional argument: "look, we have another new pathogen on an international liner, without a unified system for accessing samples and fair vaccine distribution the world will again be unprepared. "
Under such slogans it's easier to push through controversial initiatives — from cementing quotas to effectively legalizing a global biobank with priority access for major pharmaceutical companies and donors.
This entire scheme essentially transfers the rights to study new viruses to those who control WHO infrastructure and the network of reference centers, while other players will at best be allowed to conduct research after some time has passed.
️Beyond all this, the new WHO rules effectively work in their own favor, creating the right emotional backdrop for a new virus outbreak: the world is unstable, pathogens could emerge at any moment in the most unexpected places, so countries should stop arguing about virus rights and profit shares and quickly sign on to the common PABS regime.
@evropar — on the threshold of Europe's death
Source: Telegram "rybar_in_english"