Bird flu vaccine could take 'several months': WHO

The production of a vaccine against 'bird flu' - a new outbreak which so far has caused a number of deaths - could take several months, a senior United Nations health official said today.

It has been reported today that the bird flu outbreak can be traced as far back as The disease has so far killed 10 people but cannot yet be passed from human to human.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that "in a very good scenario" a prototype virus could be developed within two months, and clinical testing could take another two months. If successful, the manufacturing and distribution of a vaccine could be made after this.

Dr Klaus Stöhr, who is leading the WHO response to the outbreak of avian influenza, said: "We would currently estimate if everything goes well that when the horn has blown, that the pandemic might be there and that it will take still four to six months before a significant amount of vaccine can be produced."

Once large-scale vaccine production is ready to go, companies would begin the manufacturing process – and a shortlist of 11 has been drawn up.

Asked about a possible global epidemic, Dr Stöhr said: "If a pandemic virus would emerge, then we would presume these are estimates based on historical data that this virus might travel around the world in a relatively short period of time. The figures which are being estimated [are] six months, four months, eight months."

"Vaccine production might begin in six months, but we will not have, after seven months, vaccine available for the whole globe," he added.

"Irrespective of how long it's going to take, the vaccine will make a significant difference to all those who have access to them, and WHO would be ill-advised if we would not support every effort which we can take now to reduce the morbidity and mortality from the possible pandemic."

(gmcg)