Two new avian vaccines for the H5N1 bird flu virus have been
developed by Chinese scientists, the Ministry of
Agriculture announced Thursday.
The new vaccines are safer and more effective than previous
versions developed in China and abroad, the ministry's spokesman
said.
Laboratory studies showed the two new vaccines can produce
extremely strong antibodies that target the H5N1 virus and remain
effective within an animal's immune system for as long as 10
months, much longer than other vaccines of its kind, scientists
said.
Developed by more than 30 Chinese scientists from two key
national laboratories, the new vaccines have received preliminary
approval from the National Agricultural Bio-Safety Committee and
the ministry's Animal Medicine Evaluation Committee.
Having demonstrated safety and efficacy in limited trials, the
new vaccines have been put into large-scale production and are
expected to be used widely on poultry and other birds.
"The new vaccines will give the fight against bird flu a
powerful boost, both in China and the rest of the world," said a
Ministry of Agriculture spokesman.
The virulent H5N1 strain of avian influenza virus is proving
difficult to stamp out, with new and recurring outbreaks among
poultry despite the slaughter of 100 million birds. Experts said
culling is by far the most effective way to combat the disease,
although it can also be devastating to farmers unless they get
help.
Meanwhile, the WHO influenza network has decided to provide
China with prototype vaccine strains to assist developing a bird
flu vaccine for humans, said Roy Wadia, of the WHO's China
office.
The prototype vaccine is likely to be available by the end of
this month and will be given to pharmaceuticals makers around the
world, including China, which can produce batches for first-phase
clinical tests on humans, he added.
Meanwhile, on Thursday Hong Kong started accepting applications
for the importation of chilled and frozen poultry meat from the
mainland.
Hong Kong officials said they monitored the bird flu outbreak
situation on the mainland very closely before deciding to resume
the imports.
(China Daily March 12, 2004)