July 24, 2006

Two bird flu vaccines receive EU endorsement

The EU has given its stamp of approval to two bird flu vaccines for animal use, the European Medicines Agency said on Friday (Jul 21).

The two vaccines are manufactured by Intervet, a unit of Akzo Nobel, and Fort Dodge Animal Health.

The approval, the first of its kind in the EU, meant vaccines would be available for use in chickens and ducks in the high-risk autumn and winter 2006 period.

The vaccines is said to be able to reduce mortality and virus excretion in birds exposed to the disease. The vaccines would only be used in disease control campaigns carried out by government-appointed authorities, a statement from the agency said.

National governments still retain the right to decide whether to use the vaccines.

Authorisation of these products provides assurance should vaccination become necessary, the agency said in a statement.

The virus strains present in the vaccines are H5N2 and H5N3, which offer protection to vaccinated birds exposed to the deadly H5N1 strains.

The H5N1 virus has spread among birds in Asia, Europe and Africa.