[PROVE] BIRD FLU - Which Came First? The Virus or the Vaccine?

[Guest guest]

[PROVE Note: The first article below talks about how the US Dept of Health and

Human Services has expanded an existing $100 million dollar contract by another

$50 million to buy bird flu vaccine from the French vaccine maker

Sanofi-Aventis.

Yet the second article about testing for bird flu says, " Health officials say

there's no way to develop a vaccine until the virus attacks people. 'As a

consequence there is no virus to take and develop a vaccine from and there will

be no such virus until, in fact, that virus actually evolves, mutates into

existence and starts infecting people easily,' Buhner said. "

Hmm - I'm not sure I get what $150 million of our taxpayers money was just blown

on...]

Sanofi says produces more bird flu vaccine for US

Mon Feb 6, 2006 8:04 AM GMT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis has completed production

of an additional $50 million worth of bulk-concentrate vaccine against the H5N1

strain of bird flu for the U.S. government, the company said on Monday.

Sanofi said the stockpile broadens a $100 million contract it signed in

September with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and will be used

to support U.S. Department of Defense requirements.

[Rest of article at:

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews & storyID=2006-02\

-06T080508Z_01_WEN9854_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-SANOFI-DC.XML]

===========================

Feb 8, 2006 9:14 pm US/Central

Dallas Co. Approved To Test For Bird Flu

http://cbs11tv.com/topstories/local_story_039221444.html

Lucero

Reporting

(CBS 11 News) DALLAS

Dallas County health officials say they have received approval to conduct

testing for the Bird Flu.

As far as medical officials know, the virus has not reached the United States,

but local health officials outlined how a possible Bird Flu pandemic could

quickly spread.

Health officials say they're very concerned about the speed by which the Avian

Flu could spread and are asking for the public's help.

If pandemic influenza occurs health experts say the public will be urged to be

aware of the risks and try to avoid spreading the virus.

Dallas County Health and Human Services says by the end of this week it will

have the capability to test and diagnose H-5 strains of influenza in patients.

“Dallas County, the ability now to be able to provide in-house testing here is a

critical cornerstone in our pandemic preparedness,” said Zachary ,

Dallas County Health and Human Services.

Dallas County health officials say they have also developed a plan to combat an

epidemic should it arrive here in north Texas and if it does, they say it's

expected to sweep through the population very quickly.

“If there is not a significant lessening of the virulence of this organism, if

it makes the jump to humans, then this will be an extremely bad pandemic, should

it occur,” said Dr. Buhner, Medical Director for DCHHS.

Buhner will spearhead the response to any pandemic and soon he will be speaking

to the local business community and school districts about how they will be

asked to respond.

Health officials say there's no way to develop a vaccine until the virus attacks

people.

“As a consequence there is no virus to take and develop a vaccine from and there

will be no such virus until, in fact, that virus actually evolves, mutates into

existence and starts infecting people easily,” Buhner said.

There is a specific plan in place that states how citizens should react to a

possible pandemic.

(CBS 11 News)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Dawn

PROVE(Parents Requesting Open Vaccine Education)

prove@... (email)

http://vaccineinfo.net/ (web site)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

PROVE provides information on vaccines, and immunization policies and practices

that affect the children and adults of Texas. Our mission is to prevent vaccine

injury and death and to promote and protect the right of every person to make

informed independent vaccination decisions for themselves and their family.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This information is not to be construed as medical OR legal advice.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to PROVE Email Updates:

http://vaccineinfo.net/subscribe.htm

Tell a Friend about PROVE:

http://vaccineinfo.net/subscribe/friends.shtml

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Removal from PROVE Email Updates:

Click here: http://vaccineinfo.net/unsubscribe.htm

You are currently subscribed as texas-autism-advocacyegroups

..

-------------------------------------------------------------------