Anxiety was expressed by the global viral research fraternity about the recently developing “ferret”method of study to find a vaccine for avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. The World Health Organisation called for a discussion to address the issues of safety, following concerns raised by the US National Security Advisory Board for Biosecurity.
The strain H5N1, the bird flu virus, spreads to humans from infected birds, through contact, or by eating improperly cooked birds that may be affected by the virus. This virus is not transmitted from human to human, making it difficult to find drugs or vaccines through the “ferret”method. The ferret is a domesticated mammal that is used in the study of the virus. In a recently developed idea, scientists are trying to make a strain of the virus through ferrets, which can spread between mammals, to facilitate the discovery of drugs and vaccines.
Prof. L. Venkateswar Rao, dead, department of Microbiology, University College of Science, Osmania University explained, “The avian flu is a tough nut to crack, as the virus itself changes into several strains, making it difficult to find one single vaccine. For instance, imagine the common influenza virus. It also evolves very rapidly, and hence, the immunity that forms, is unable to tackle the virus again, when it attacks in a slightly different avatar. So, the study should include all strains and variations that are recorded worldwide, to produce an effective vaccine.”