Flu vaccine trial successful

Three-quarters of children who were given a bird flu vaccine have shown immunity after 21 days, according to a study.

A report in the Paediatric and Infectious Diseases Journal showed the drug met all US and European standards.

In total 12 children were given a single dose of Fluval, which has been designed to protect against the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza.

The drug was initially trialled in adults, but tests showed positive reaction in children.

Drugs are being developed to combat bird flu over fears it could become a potential cause of the next influenza pandemic.

The World Health Organization has classified the threat as "serious".

Studies to test the effects of Fluval in older adults have gone underway.

Fluval was developed and produced by Omninvest LTD (Hungary), Reuters reported, with the report conducted by Dr Zoltan Vajo, of the National Center for Immunology and Allergy in Budapest, and co-authors.

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