No Human Vaccine Developed to Fight Bird Flu
The H5N1 strain of the bird flu that can theoretically kill humans hit five districts of the Moscow Region, Russia’s animal and plant health watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor officially announced yesterday. Doctors call for the mass vaccination of population, but Russia will be able to produce the required vaccine in 2008 at best.
Nikolay Vlasov, head of veterinary surveillance at Russia's animal and plant health watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor, confirmed yesterday that a bird flu outbreak near Moscow was caused by a H5N1 strain that can theoretically kill humans. “This strain is highly pathogen and dangerous for humans,” the official specified.
The bird flu has spread to Odintsovo, Podolsk, Naro-Fominsk, Taldom and Domodedovo districts of the Moscow Region, it was announced Monday.
Two criminal cases were opened on discovery of infection source on the Moscow bird market. “The market territory where the live poultry was sold has been sealed. The investigation is controlled by Moscow prosecutors,” said Svetlana Petrenko, briefer of the Moscow Prosecutor Office.
The Moscow authorities warned the population to avoid buying poultry meat from private vendors. Buying poultry in shops is safe, they assured.
The mass vaccination of the Moscow Region’s poultry is underway, and the doctors urge to vaccine the people as well. But Russia doesn’t produce the required vaccine and the dates of its readiness, all the more launch into the mass production are yet unclear.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Feb. 20, 2007
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