Avian Flu Vaccine Underway

SYDNEY - Feb 5/04 - SNS -- Australian researchers hope to have an avian influenza vaccine developed and ready for use in the field later this year.

The work is underway at CSIRO livestock industries and animal health company, Imugene Limited. The research team aims to deliver a trial vaccine against the virulent H5N1 strain of the disease, within a matter of months. Once developed, the vaccine could be used to safeguard Australia's poultry industry.

CSIRO's Dr Chris Prideaux says that even if development of a vaccine is too late to help control the current outbreak in Asia, it would still be possible for researchers to quickly adapt it to deal with new strains of avian influenza.

"In this way, if we are successful in creating a more effective vaccine, this would then provide a new option for controlling avian influenza outbreaks if and when they arise, either in Australia or overseas," he says.

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