H5N1: Deaths in Egypt, more dead birds in Hong Kong, Vietnam tests new vaccine, USDA approves new vaccine

On 07 April 2012, a 36 year old woman went to an Egyptian hospital and died the same day.  She tested positive for H5N1.

She is the 5th Egyptian to die from H5N1 this year.  So far there have been nine confirmed human cases of H5N1 in Egypt this year.

In Hong Kong, at the beginning of April, a dead oriental magpie robin tested positive for H5N1.

Vietnam began testing the second dose of a new vaccine on 08 April.   1,000 volunteers from the provinces of Thanh Hoa and Ha Nam are taking the vaccines, they got the first dose in March.

The Vietnamese Army Medical Institute will make final analysis of the vaccine, according to European standards.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a new vaccine for poultry.

The vaccine maker, Ceva, says Vectormune HVT AIV vaccine has been tested against several types of bird flu viruses in different parts of the world: “Our research revealed such outstanding potency features and flexibility that we believe this vaccine can dramatically help in improving the control of Avian Influenza.”-Yannick Gardin, Ceva Santé Animale