Bangladesh
Bird Flu Vaccine Local company produces low cost bird flu vaccine
Dhaka, June 18: To prevent bird flu, a chicken needs to be vaccinated in three doses. The first dose is between seven and 14 days of age, the second dose is given in 28 days. The last dose is to be given at the age of 6 months. The vaccine is being patented, manufactured and marketed by FNF Pharmaceuticals for use in poultry. The vaccine named 'Bangla Bird Flu H9 VAC' invented by FNF Pharmaceuticals has already been approved by the Drug Administration for production and marketing.
Bird flu vaccine is being developed in Jhenaidah in Bangladesh. FNF Pharmaceuticals is located in Rautail area of Kumrabaria Union No. 5 in Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila.
Kohinoor Parveen, Mostafa Kamal and Ainul Haque invented the vaccine three years ago under the supervision of Md. Alimul Islam, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. The vaccine has been named 'Bangla Bird Flu H9 VAC'.
Officials at the company said 15 production officials had assisted in the study. Alimul Islam is working as an advisory researcher at the institute. The other three are researchers at the institute. The vaccine has already had to be imported from abroad to prevent bird flu. Now this vaccine will be available in the country, the cost will be less.
Explaining the vaccine cycle, the organisation's R&D and QC (Biological Unit) Animal Healthcare Manager Dr. Mosha. Kahinur Parveen said, "This vaccine will be much better than other vaccines and farmers will benefit."
"Earlier, bird flu vaccine had to be imported. However, this is the first time in Bangladesh that FNF Pharmaceuticals is developing a bird flu vaccine. This is positive for the poultry industry in our country. This vaccine will be cheap and readily available to farmers as it is produced in the country," said Jhenaidah District Livestock Officer Anando Kumar Adhikari said.
