New avian flu vaccine for poultry developed

 
The first in ovo or egg injected avian flu vaccine ha developed by veterinary professorsin Auburn University in collabration with researchers at Vaxin Inc. of Birmingham. The researchers inserted a gene from a low pathogenic avisn flu virus strain (H5N9) into a non-replicating human virus, a Vaxin proprietary technology, which was then injected into developing chicken embryos still in the egg.
Mass vaccination programs around the perimeter region would help to reduce the risk of further dissemination of the field virus to neighbouring areas. Because this vaccine also allows easy differentiation between naturally infected birds and vaccinated birds, this new vaccine could also be used to prevent outbreaks of disease in case of immediate risk from a known strain affecting, for example, neighbouring countries.

(The Hindu, 4th January 2007)