17 02 2009
Konarovice - Some Czechs were threatened by getting infected with the dangerous H5N1 bird flu virus strain from a vaccine developed by the Austrian pharmaceutical company Baxter that was tested on ferrets, the daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) writes today.
The vaccine was tested by the Biotest company in Konarovice from early January and the research was permitted by the Industry and Trade Ministry, Czech chief sanitary officer Michael Vit told the paper.
"Suddenly the ferrets started dying and so the research stopped on February 6," Vit said.
The Czech veterinary authority revealed that the ferrets got infected with the lethal bird flu virus.
"All the ferrets had to be liquidated and the company had to be closed," said the authority's spokesman Josef Duben.
All 13 people who got into contact with the ferrets were in danger but they were lucky not to get infected, MfD writes.
"They immediately received the Tamiflu drug and they underwent tests. Fortunately, none of them got infected," Vit said.
However, Vit added that experts will continue to test these people.
Duben said the case was a "serious warning."
According to MfD, the Baxter company admitted that the mistake occurred in Austria and that it sent infected vaccines to the Czech Republic.
hat-tip Dutchy
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