Vaccine Effective Against Avian Flu

FiReaNGeL writes "Researchers announced they have genetically engineered an avian flu vaccine from the critical components of the deadly H5N1 virus that completely protected mice and chickens from infection. This virus has thus far killed 80 people, devastated bird populations in Southeast Asia and Europe and caused for billions in damage through the world." Here's hoping it works on us, too.

Comments

Re:Virus Fund, let's do it.

[exi1ed0ne]

Great. Another "fund" (a.k.a. more taxation/debt) to combat something that may never come to pass. We can't even pay for all the government we got now. Why go looking for more things to throw money at? Given China's population density, along with their poor living conditions in their farming communities, the infection rate would have to be higher and the percentage of death less. Shouting "PANDEMIC!!!" is way over reacting at this point.

Want to protect yourself from the bird flu? Wash your hands more often.

Hey idiots

[Anonymous Coward]

Avian flu is a virus. A vaccine does not work the same way as an antibiotic. The birds get dosed once or twice and then their bodies learn to fight of Avian Flu. The vaccine does not stick around in their systems for a long time.

    Speling Troll

Okay, ignore the "bird flu" hype for a little bit.

[mmell]

The research described in TFA could have repercussions for immunization and vaccination programs worldwide. That the researchers are concentrating on the H5N1 avian flu virus is predictable given the recent concerns about the potential for a lethal pandemic, but the research is applicable to a broad variety of virii such as the multiple influenza strains, which annually result in literally thousands of deaths worldwide, in part due to the lengthy and complex process involved in isolating, identifying, characterizing and controlling the virus particles involved.

We're dealing with a family of virii which mutates with frightening rapidity; speeding up the ability to respond to these mutations strikes me as an incredible advance which will ultimately save thousands of lives per year (assuming, of course, that this research is verifiable).

Why are we talking about Avian Flu

[XenoRyet]

Seriously, why are we talking about this as if it's dangerous to humans? The blurb states that this virus has killed 80 people so far. Regular old influeza kills 250,000 to 500,000 per year. I know there is the risk of it spreading and mutating and causing a pandemic. But is that really so likely that all this attention is justified?

It reminds me of the West Nile Virus hype. We heard about West Nile for months and months as if it was the black death or some such thing. For the record West Nile produces mild flu-like symptoms. You might catch it, have it run it's cycle, and be healthy again and just think you had a bad day. It only ever killed people who probably would have been done in by a stiff breeze. Yet this was newsworthy material.

I don't understand this facination in the media with obscure exotic desises that don't have any real impact on world heath. Lets get some perspective before we claim the sky is falling.

Re:Why are we talking about Avian Flu

[MtlDty]

Avian flu is now endemic amongst birds in South Asia, and was reportedly suspected to be endemic amongst birds in Turkey (which I still find bitterly ironic)

It may have only killed 80 people so far, but thats over 50% of the 150 or so people that have been infected. If the mortality rate is as severe when the virus mutates into a form more transmitable between humans then we're in real trouble - estimates of 150,000,000 deaths worldwide would ensure that someone you know personally will die.

There arent many professionals in the field that believe we can escape an imminent birdflu pandemic. So, in short, yes - it is likely that this will turn into a pandemic and we should all be as prepared as possible for that.

Re:Virus Fund, let's do it.

[XenoRyet]

Only 80 deaths. That is not statisticaly signifigant in any size population.

Not only do we not need an Avian Flu specific fund, the money already dedicated to the purpose was too much. There are litteraly thousands of more deadly illnesses out there, currently active, and currently transmitible between humans. Why should we spend billions on this one virus that has thus for only shown the potential for danger?

The first world nations don't need to pledge to do anything on this yet. There is nothing to do yet, Avian influenza is not a threat, it only has potential to become a threat. It would be almost criminal to spend so much on a thus-far fairly begnine virus. First world nations need to have a little perspective before dedicating billions to the media's current favorite "crisis".

No, I think the normal reaserch budgets will be more than sufficent to look into Avian Flu for the moment. Those extra billions would be much better spent in a miriad of other places.

Re:1918 Flu was Bird Flu

[DigitalRaptor]

The problem is, what happens when the power goes out because everyone who works at the powerplant is dead, infected, taking care of sick family, or unable / unwilling to come to work?

Same with the ISP, the hospital (which has no medicine anyway), the grocery store (which has no food anyway), the gas station (which has no gas or goodies to sell anyway).

People don't realize how much our society relies on JIT, Just In Time delivery. Most stores have less than a week of food on hand and it is constantly replenished. Most gas stations have less than a week of gas onhand. Most hospitals have less than a few weeks medicine on hand.

If the bird flu becomes human to human transmissible, it won't be pretty, and we won't be sitting at home surfing the `net with a Starbucks. Hopefully we'll have food, water, and electricity.