This new vaccine is designed to shield people working in close proximity to birds infected with H5N1.

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While the vaccine does guard against the current form of H5N1, it is not intended to defend people against an anticipated mutant form of the virus that could trigger a pandemic, Agence France Presse reported.

But it could provide a head start. "If the virus were to mutate, we would not have to experiment with new technology but would be able to manufacture a real vaccine within eight weeks," Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said at a news conference. – (HealthDayNews)

Read more: Bird flu: how worried should we be?

March 2006
 

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