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WHO: Bird flu bigger challenge than AIDS

Infection Control Monitor, March 10, 2006

The World Health Organization announced earlier this week that the lethal strain of bird flu poses a greater challenge to the world than any infectious disease, including AIDS, the Associated Press reports.

Scientists are increasingly concerned that the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily passed between humans. It already spreads rapidly between animals.

U.S. health officials said they have authorized the development of a second vaccine to combat the virus, which health officials already believe is changing.

The U.S. government already has several million doses of a bird flu vaccine. However, it is based on a sample of the virus taken from Vietnam in 2004, and the virus is believed to have mutated since then, health officials said.

"In order to be prepared, we need to continue to develop new vaccines," Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said Monday at an immunization conference.

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