S. Korean scientists develop human vaccine for Influenza A

DAEJEON, May 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean scientists said Monday they have
succeeded in developing a human vaccine against Influenza A, which can be used to
stem the worldwide spread of the disease.
Researchers from Chungnam National University said they have cultivated the
"standard virus" supplied by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and created a material that is not toxic and can be mass produced cheaply.
The team, led by Seo Sang-heui from the college of veterinary medicine, said the
vaccine was developed on Friday, 11 days after the CDC provided the virus sample.
The vaccine strain has been named CNUK-RG A/CA/4xPR/8 (H1N1), with scientists
confirming its effectiveness through tests conducted on human and monkey cell
samples. A fully developed vaccine should reach the market in September after
basic clinical experiments are completed.
"The vaccine is probably the first developed in the world, with the university
team ready to provide the data to make the treatment material available to
pharmaceutical companies and research laboratories around the world free of
charge," Seo said. He said it may cost 60 million won (US$47,000) to fully
inoculate all of South Korea from the new flu virus.
He added that the World Health Organization (WHO) has been notified that the
vaccine will be provided with no conditions attached.
As of Sunday, the death toll from the epidemic stood at more than 70 people
worldwide, with infections reported in 36 countries and over 8,000 confirmed
cases reported to the WHO. The flu is a variant strain of swine, bird and common
human flu viruses and can be transmitted between people.
South Korea has three confirmed cases, though none have been reported since May 3
and all three have been released from quarantine after showing no symptoms of the
illness after treatment.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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