Vietnam to Test Bird Flu Vaccines on Humans
HANOI, VIETNAM - Vietnam's Health Ministry has allowed the use of locally-produced bird flu vaccines on humans on a trial basis, local newspaper Young People reported on Tuesday.The Military Medical Institute will use vaccines produced by local company Vabiotech for the eight-month trial vaccination starting this month. In 2007, the vaccines were tested on animals and proved effective.
To date, Vietnam has reported a total of 106 human cases of bird flu infections, including 52 fatalities, in 35 cities and provinces since bird flu started to hit the country in December 2003. However, the World Health Organization has yet to confirm the latest case.
Vietnam currently has 11 localities having poultry being hit bybird flu, according to the Department of Animal Health.
Bird flu outbreaks in Vietnam have killed and led to the forced culling of dozens of millions of fowls in the country.