Bird Flu Vaccine For Poultry Successfully Developed In India

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Veterinary;  Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 17 Jul 2006 - 9:00 PDT

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The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said yesterday that it has successfully developed a vaccine that protects poultry from bird flu. The announcement was made during the 77th Annual General Meeting of the ICAR Society, by Shri Sharad Pawar, Union Minister of Agriculture.

India experienced its first outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) in February, 2006. This led to the culling of hundreds of thousands of birds. So far, no human infections have been reported in the country.

Dr. Mangala Rai, Director General, ICAR, said "Viral disease such as Avian Influenza does not recognize boundaries and the development of indigenous vaccine would go a long way in tackling bird flu effectively. Since the disease has got recurring possibility, further research would focus on developing another type of vaccine."

ICAR is India's top agricultural research organization. It decided to develop a vaccine against bird flu indigenously. ICAR's High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, in Bhopal, produced the vaccine in a record four months. It is the only lab in India to conduct tests for the H5N1 variant of avian influenza. This new development should mean that India may soon not need to import its bird flu vaccines for poultry.

This vaccine is for birds, not humans.

ICAR DEVELOPS INDIGENOUS VACCINE FOR BIRD FLU
Indian Council of Agriculture Research

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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