News Release
For Immediate Release Contact: Sara T. Pappa, Public Information
April 18, 2007 (937) 374-5662 or toll-free at 1(866) 858-3588
(Xenia, OH) The Greene County Combined Health District (GCCHD) is pleased to announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the first approval in the United States of a vaccine for humans against the H5N1 influenza virus, commonly known as avian or bird flu.
The vaccine could be used in the event the current H5N1 avian virus were to develop the capability to efficiently spread from human to human, resulting in the rapid spread of the disease across the globe. Should such an influenza pandemic emerge, the vaccine may provide early limited protection in the months before a vaccine tailored to the pandemic strain of the virus could be developed and produced.
"The threat of an influenza pandemic is, at present, one of the most significant public health issues our nation and world faces," said Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs. "The approval of this vaccine is an important step forward in our protection against a pandemic."
The H5N1 virus is one version of the influenza A virus commonly found in birds. Unlike seasonal influenza, where infection ranges from mild to serious symptoms in most people, the disease caused by H5N1 is far more severe and happens quickly, with pneumonia and multi-organ failure commonly seen.
Mark McDonnell, Greene County Health Commissioner, said, “while it will be several months before the vaccine will be added to our U.S. Strategic National Stockpile, some vaccine will be ready in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak.”
The U.S. Strategic National Stockpile is maintained by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It contains large quantities of medicine and medical supplies to protect the American public if there is a public health emergency, which can be delivered to any state in the United States within 12 hours. For more information on the government's preparedness efforts, visit: www.pandemicflu.gov.
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