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Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/so...-va.../414252/
South East Asia looks to Pune for bird flu vaccine
Anuradha Mascarenhas Posted: Jan 23, 2009 at 0054 hrs IST
Pune: An emergency vaccine against bird flu is being prepared in Pune for the entire South East Asia. Even as the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus has infected 397 humans causing 249 deaths, this is for the first time that World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified National Institute of Virology (NIV) and Serum Institute of India ? both located in Pune ? to prepare a pre-pandemic vaccine.
NIV director Dr A C Mishra told Newsline that the institute has genetically modified the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of the virus. This means that the strain retains all its properties but does not kill. This ?reverse genetically modified virus? has now been given to Serum Institute for producing a vaccine against bird flu.
Once the vaccine is prepared, it will be tested at NIV and then given to Serum Institute for large-scale production. Serum Institute of India executive director Dr S S Jadhav said WHO has given $ 2.2 million for the project as part of the pandemic preparedness. India will be the first country in the developing world to have this pre-pandemic vaccine, Mishra said.
South East Asia looks to Pune for bird flu vaccine
Anuradha Mascarenhas Posted: Jan 23, 2009 at 0054 hrs IST
Pune: An emergency vaccine against bird flu is being prepared in Pune for the entire South East Asia. Even as the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus has infected 397 humans causing 249 deaths, this is for the first time that World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified National Institute of Virology (NIV) and Serum Institute of India ? both located in Pune ? to prepare a pre-pandemic vaccine.
NIV director Dr A C Mishra told Newsline that the institute has genetically modified the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of the virus. This means that the strain retains all its properties but does not kill. This ?reverse genetically modified virus? has now been given to Serum Institute for producing a vaccine against bird flu.
Once the vaccine is prepared, it will be tested at NIV and then given to Serum Institute for large-scale production. Serum Institute of India executive director Dr S S Jadhav said WHO has given $ 2.2 million for the project as part of the pandemic preparedness. India will be the first country in the developing world to have this pre-pandemic vaccine, Mishra said.