May 2, 2005

Bird flu vaccine lab for Thailand

A virus-free laboratory to develop bird flu vaccine for fowls will be built in Thailand in several months, according to local press reports.

To develop a vaccine prototype, a completed hygienic laboratory is needed to ensure accurate results, said Yukol Limlamthong, director-general of the Livestock Development Department.

Currently, the researchers are extracting highly virulent components from the virus' genes to obtain less harmful genes that would be developed as the initial prototype.

However, there was no policy to apply those vaccines to animals raised in farms.

Livestock experts have warned against the use of vaccines for fear that it could result in the virus mutating into a more virulent strain.