Safety

First bird flu vaccine approved for U.S.

OSHA Healthcare Connection, April 24, 2007

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 17 approved for human use a vaccine for the H5N1 influenza virus, also known a bird or avian flu.

"The vaccine could be used in the event the current H5N1 avian virus were to develop the capability to efficiently spread from human to human, resulting in the rapid spread of the disease across the globe," says the FDA news release. Use of the approved vaccine will provide limited protection before a pandemic-specific vaccine could be administered.

Unlike seasonal flu, "H5N1 is far more severe and happens quickly, with pneumonia and multi-organ failure commonly seen," says the FDA.



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