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Vaccines For Bird Flu

Researchers worldwide are working relentlessly to provide safe vaccines for the deadliest of the flu stains and that is the bird flu virus. The researches are showing out some definite and successful results in this regard.

A vaccine to fight back the bird flu virus has been developed in china with quite a good response. This vaccine proves effective at low doses but its effectiveness against newer forms of viruses is yet to be tested.

European Executive commission has authorized two vaccines against the virus – Nobilis Influenza H5N2, for treating chickens, and has been given in injection form. The second Poulvac Flu Fend H5N3 RG for chickens and Pekinese ducks and is also given in injection forms. These vaccines have considerably reduced the death rates in the poultry and domesticated fowls.

An experimental vaccine against the strain H9N2 that causes infection in humans and added to it an adjuvant (immune boosting chemical) has been developed and low doses have been observed to generate a strong antibody response to the virus. One adjuvant vaccine is approximately equal to two doses of the vaccine without the adjuvant.

The side effects for the vaccine are found to be nil except for mild pain and tenderness at the spot where the vaccine has been injected. The vaccine generated little or no reaction to H9N2 virus different from the one used in the vaccine, and only a minority of the volunteers showed immunity t the virus. No strong response was noticed. This vaccine is recognized only in the European countries but not yet in the U.S. as its’ results are not yet proven in the U.S. It is felt that the vaccines can be tested only after the outbreak of the endemic and no one can wait for the outbreak of the endemic.

The vaccine is developed from the purified preparations of the viral surface proteins Hemmagglutinin and Neuraminidase, derived from an H9N2 virus isolated from chicken during 1997 in Hong Kong.

Some scientists feel that there is no vaccine as yet developed for the deadly endemic called bird flu. According to them Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) if administered 48 hours soon after the symptoms reveal themselves can lessen the severity of the infection and might prevent infection from aggravating. One tablet of Tamiflu before the exposure to bird flu may prevent it. It prevents the virus from penetrating deep into the cell s and so may not exhibit any compounding effect once the viruses are inside the cells.

The people of 50 and above 50 are advised to take all precautionary measures at the first sight of the infection setting in. This the most vulnerable age when the aged can be prone to many other health problems like diabetes, asthma and heart ailments. The infection at this age can increase the risk factors and lead to pulmonary respiratory problems, viral pneumonia and various respiratory hazards. Annual shots as precautionary measures are always advisable.