The fight against infectious diseases can be won only if all countries participate, sharing research and results. That's why Indonesia's recent decision to stop sharing samples of the H5N1 bird flu virus so alarmed public-health officials: It could have prevented researchers from working on one of the most virulent strains of avian influenza, and resulted in a gap in the medical community's ability to respond to an outbreak.

Fortunately, Jakarta reversed course earlier this month and agreed to resume sharing samples with the World Health Organization (WHO). But the episode underscores the concerns of developing countries and the need to ensure that they are not victimized yet again as vaccines are developed.

Avian influenza has killed 167 people since 2003. While the disease is now found around the world, most of the victims are in Asia. Indonesia has been worst hit with 63 fatalities. Fortunately, the disease is mostly confined to animals, but researchers fear that it will mutate and become capable of passing from human to human. If that occurs, scientists fear a global pandemic could result in tens -- if not hundreds -- of millions of fatalities. It is imperative, then, that medical researchers have access to all the bird flu strains so that they are prepared no matter which particular version mutates.