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Researchers to test bird flu vaccine on humans

Infection Control Monitor, March 25, 2005

Hundreds of healthy adults in three United States cities will undergo testing of a vaccine against the bird flu, Reuters reports.

Vaccine-manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur will test the vaccine on people in Baltimore, Los Angeles, and Rochester, NY.

Although there have been very few reported cases of avian flu in humans, health officials worldwide fear that the bird flu could kill tens of millions of people if it becomes easily passed from human to human.

The initial phase of the human testing will determine if the vaccine is safe, not whether it protects people from infection. Researchers will use an inactivated H5N1 avian flu virus isolated in 2004 for the test.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases reports that between January 2004 and March 11, 2005, there were 69 confirmed cases of and 46 deaths from the bird flu in humans.

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