India develops vaccine for bird flu

An experimental vaccine for bird flu that uses killed H5N1 virus has been developed by the India-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory. Scientist are hopeful since “the immune response is good and the vaccine offers protection of above 90 percent. The lab is now in the process of looking into the duration of protection” according to a report by All Headline News. The vaccine has already been tested for safety, dosage, and route of inoculation.

Scientists developed the vaccine over a short period of time since cell lines are already available five years prior and only the dead viruses were collected during this year’s outbreak. According to the report, the most effecitve use of this drug will be right after an outbreak to control spread, instead of vaccinations prior to an event, since the drug has its limitations.

While this is great news, I’m still trying to figure out if this vaccine is for humans, or for poultry, since news have been short and general, and there’s very little information on how effective the vaccine is. What does 90% protection mean exactly? Hopefully we’ll find out more. I’m quoting from Reuters India: The laboratory in Bhopal is the main facility in the country for testing and research. India is not developing a vaccine for humans but has imported vaccines for poultry from the Netherlands.

[Source: All Headline News]