Human trial of bird flu vaccine ‘encouraging’

Results of trials on a human vaccine against the deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu are said to be “encouraging”.

French researchers claim that two 30 microgram doses of a weakened strain of the virus produces high levels of antibodies that could combat the disease.

Dr Melanie Saville, who led the research, wrote in the Lancet medical journal that the two-dose method was safe and complied with current influence vaccine regulations. In trials, only a few participants were said to have suffered any major reactions to the treatment.

The deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu has killed over 100 people, mostly in Asia and the Middle East, but there are fears that it could cross over to humans and cause a global pandemic.

Governments are gearing up to prevent this but earlier this week representatives of Europe’s top science bodies called for better leadership and incentives for research into vaccines.

This new research indicates that there may be hope of a vaccine, though Dr Saville stressed that the level of protection it offers against H5N1 has yet to be tested.

American clinical worker Gregory Poland added that even if protection against bird flu was offered, two 30 microgram doses per person currently exceeded global manufacturing capacity.

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