Our World

Bird-Flu Vaccine

A new vaccine is currently being tested to fight bird flu. As of now, scientists are using mice to test the vaccine, but are unsure whether the drug will be effective in humans. Also, the vaccine is designed to fight a version of bird flu identified in Vietnam in 2003. For this reason, many wonder if it can also be used as protection in the latest forms of bird flu found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. In the article it states that our government is spending $250 million on vaccine doses that fight the Vietnamese version of bird flu...which can protect up to 20 million Americans. In my opinion, it seems like a lot of money to be spending when you're not even sure it will work. I am glad that we are trying to find ways of avoiding bird-flu deaths in America, however I am not sure why we are using a vaccine, made to fight a version seen 3 years ago. I am sure that bird-flu has possibly changed over the years so scientists should be finding a vaccine that can help the H5N1 version that we are seeing today.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11933664/#storyContinued

posted by Anonymous @ 3/30/2006 11:23:00 AM