Chinese Scientists Developed Vaccine for H7N9 Bird Flu Virus

Chinese scientists on 26 October 2013 announced the independently developed a vaccine for the H7N9 bird flu virus.

The vaccine was jointly developed by the School of Medicine of the Zhejiang University, Hong Kong University, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Food and Drug Control, and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

China reported the world's first human case for H7N9 bird flu infection in March 2013. As of now, a total of 136 people were confirmed to have been infected with the virus. Of the infected, 45 died, representing a fatality rate of about 33 per cent.

What is the avian influenza A (H7N9) virus/Bird Flu Virus?

Avian influenza A H7 viruses are a group of influenza viruses that normally circulate among birds. The avian influenza A (H7N9) virus is one subgroup among the larger group of H7 viruses. Although some H7 viruses (H7N2, H7N3 and H7N7) have occasionally been found to infect humans.