New vaccine may give long-term defense against deadly bird flu and its variant forms

A new vaccine that apparently can provide long-lasting protection for pathogenic bird flu, H5N1, and its mutations, has been developed by Purdue researchers in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Purdue virologist Suresh Mittal said that compared to traditional vaccines, the new vaccine would have the advantages of not being based on eggs, would be easy and fast to produce, and could easily be modified to changes in the flu virus. Credit: Purdue Agricultural Communication photo/Tom Campbell