(India) ICAR develops vaccine to combat h5n1

[AlaskaDenise]

New Delhi, March 03: Indian Council of Agricultural Research has developed a vaccine to control the deadly h5n1 bird flu virus, the Lok Sabha was told on Monday.

ICAR has developed a vaccine using h5n1 field strain virus isolated from the outbreaks in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, Minister of State for Agriculture Akhilesh Prasad Singh said while replying to a query whether the government has a vaccine to combat the bird flu virus.

Singh said the assessment for efficacy and potency of avian influenza vaccine through the experimental study have shown good protective antibody titre.

ICAR has initiated steps to make available the indigenous vaccine through transfer of technology to commercial producers, he said, adding that the production of avian influenza vaccine requires bio-containment and has developed a vaccine bank arrangement with the capacity of 45 million doses of avian influenza vaccine.

"Till date the government has not opted for vaccination against avian influenza. However, the government is maintaining a strategic reserve if the vaccination to be introduced in future," he said.

http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=428086&sid=ENV&ssid=28

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: (India) ICAR develops vaccine to combat h5n1

I''m assuming this is a human vaccine. (based on last paragraph)

Why are they producing a vaccine for only local strains?

Why not develop a vaccine that would include local strains, but also strains circulating globally?

.

 

[tropical]

Re: (India) ICAR develops vaccine to combat h5n1

I''m assuming this is a human vaccine. (based on last paragraph)

Why are they producing a vaccine for only local strains?

Why not develop a vaccine that would include local strains, but also strains circulating globally?

.

I suppose it is an reasonable logic:
to first produce the strains which are already present in a local area and have the potential to become pandemic, than,
if it would remain enaugh free production capacities, and time, starting to produce other global strains that have that potential, because till now, there is no formed pandemic strain anywhere.