Japan develops new bird flu vaccine for chickens
Researchers in Japan say they have developed a new type of vaccine to protect chickens against the H5N1 strain of bird flu
The research group led by scientists at Hokkaido University gave their report Tuesday at a convention organized in the city of Tsukuba by the Japan Veterinary Medical Association and the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science.
The report said that the newly developed bird flu vaccine took effect more rapidly then the vaccines currently on the market. It increased antibodies inside the chicken within one week after its injection, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Wednesday.
Currently Japan intends to import vaccines to stockpile against any future bird flu outbreak but may now use this newer vaccine as an alternative.
In experiments, the researchers exposed chickens to the H5N1 virus, those chickens that had been injected with the new vaccine remained healthy, while those without the injection all died within two weeks. In addition, the antibodies formed in the chicken as a result of the vaccination remained effective six months after the injection.