Posted on 11/27/2006 1:13:52 AM PST by Lurker
— Vietnam produces human H5N1 vaccine in labs.
The Nha Trang Institute of Vaccines and Biological Products in the central Khanh Hoa province of Vietnam has announced that it has successfully produced 5,000 doses of a H5N1 vaccine for humans from chicken embryos.
The vaccine gave similar results after being tested on white mice, guinea−pig and cockerels. The quality was tested against the World Health Organization's standards.
Samples taken from the vaccinated animals 10 days after the second dose, showed that the vaccine produced the highest haemagglutinin antibody levels.
These vaccines have been sent to the National Institute of Verification of Vaccines and Biological Products.
Of course, they could have produced this vaccine in a Rottweiller...
L
You forgot to mention that you have to be out of your mind to do this stuff in the USA because of your friendly neighborhood trial lawyer.
They are killing US innovation.
I guess we should be glad we never used nukes on that country.
Thanks for the ping. L, I know that you know all the stuff I'm going to post here, but I repeat myself for those who may not be aware.
Vietnam had the second largest outbreak of BF in humans, and is at risk for further outbreaks, particularly of the strains that come from China, if I remember my reading correctly. China is also developing vaccines, as are other countries: Indonesia, the US, the UK, France, etc.
Any vaccine progress is good news; one of the concerns right now, though, is that the vaccines being developed will not be effective against the strain that finally goes pandemic if/when.
The pandemic strain has not yet mutated. When it does, the vaccines we have presently (the US has developed some, also) will be only partially effective--or ineffective--against the (probably multiple) pandemic strain.
At the onset (if and when), all countries will immediately begin to develop more specific targetted vaccines for the H5N1 strains in their location.
Serious discussions of pandemic, and planning exercises, call for the general public to have some backup of food, medication, and water for the initial "wave" of illness. This will enable social isolation to occur, will make voluntary quarantine easier, will help in case of delayed deliveries due to sick personnel. There are varying lengths of time recommended for stocking up, you can take your pick and prepare as you see fit. Americans overseas are being encourage to prepare for from 2-12 weeks of possible shortages.
No one knows what the future holds, as far as a pandemic is concerned. The possibility is serious enough that various institutions are making preparations for functioning in case of it. This includes financial institutions, medical facilities, the military, industrial planning, and some private citizens who have concerns.
This poses no great difficulty for me. Me and mine could easily do 60 days without too much problem, more if we absolutely had to.
It's the rather sudden increase in the length of time that's caught my attention. Well, that and a couple of other factors which you and I have discussed elsewhere.
The possibility is serious enough that various institutions are making preparations for functioning in case of it.
There's a real push on for every Federal, State, and Local agency to have it's COOP (Continuity Of Operations) plans dusted off, updated, and practiced now.
I haven't seen that before.
There's also a real big 'outreach' effort to help private business develop COOPs. That's fairly new as well.
Is something afoot? Hard to say. Maybe this is just the Feds, finally, getting serious about Mitigation and Preparation. Or maybe they know something we don't.
Either way it'll behoove folks to start laying in supplies now. Buy it cheap, stack it deep.
Oh and you might want to buy some stock in companies that produce eggs.
Just a thought.
L
Thanks for your post, L. I have to agree, I've seen a lot of quiet preparation and practice for ... something.
Keeping a nice, well-stocked pantry is something our parents and grandparents always did; to me, it's like edible insurance: you hope you don't need it, but if you do, you would sure be out of luck if you didn't have it. And nothing is wasted, if you store what you eat, and eat what you store.
That's their way of saying it was in an experimental lab and not a 'production' facility.
Noticed that also. As I told my wife once, it is one thing for me and my father (old farmer) to worry about this stuff. We do it all the time. But when the government start talking about storing 3 months of food and water it sounds a little more serious.
I don't know...I think I'd be careful with that one.
Bird flu may pose greater risk to financial markets than terrorism - analysts
"LONDON (AFX)-11-27-2006 - Bird flu may pose a statistically greater risk to financial markets than terrorism, according to analysis conducted by Thomson Corp unit Thomson Financial. "
L
Nha Trang was the home of Alexandre Yersin, discoverer of the plague bacillus. His house there is now a museum.
To most doctors, the name Yersin is known only for its eponymous connection with the plague bacillus, Yersinia pestis. In Vietnam, where he lived for over 50 years, Alexandre Yersin is a legendary figure.
"The pandemic strain has not yet mutated"
I read (Article here on FR, where else) that the H5N1 had mutated in isolated areas for human to human infection.
Are you saying that mutation will need to mutate further to become pandemic instead of just isolated cases?
Cold winter weather set in here in Oregon. Made a barley and canned beef stew yesterday. Think I'll stock up on some canned beef. Down by the head with tuna.
I think there have been three H2H clusters in Indonesia, within families, which hints at some genetic suscetability. The three clusters are being described as inefficient H2H transmission and in my opinion, these clusters are what prompted the WHO/CDC to change the meaning of phase 3/4 pandemic levels. The original level descriptions did not comprehend an inefficent H2H transmission.
Some argue that we should at a pandemic level 4 but, I disagree. Level 4 is meant to mean that a cluster is essentially 'out of control' or near it.
Yup, I thought that's what you meant. We may need a break-through with vaccines to beat this one and it may not include eggs.
A little slow, but a ping, nonetheless...(Thanks, Lurker!)
Knock knock!
who's there?
unnngh!
unnngh who?
unnngh you glad I pinged you?
Unnnghulate...?
You'll get hair on your palms and go blind from that.
L
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