Bird flu vaccine declared safe by testers

Chinese researchers said Monday that the first round of clinical tests of a bird flu vaccine for humans have found the treatment to be safe and effective.

The researchers said they administered the vaccine, which was jointly developed by China's Ministry of Science and Technology, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and pharmaceutical company Beijing Sinovac Biotech Co., to 120 people, reported Xinhua, China's official government-run news agency.

The trials revealed that the vaccine was most effective at a dose of 10 micrograms, creating 78.3 percent protective antibodies, ahead of the EU flu vaccine standard of 70 percent, Xinhua said.

Researchers said the vaccine, which can be mass produced, did not create serious adverse reactions in any of the participants, and was deemed safe for human use after an analysis of blood and urine samples.

Beijing Sinovac Biotech Co. said it was preparing to apply for a second round of trials for the vaccine.

There have been 21 confirmed cases of bird flu in China, and 14 people in the country have died from the disease.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

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