They claimed that evolution of Nepal-grown strain of bird flu virus was an evidence that unauthorised vaccine was behind the spread of H5N1 virus. According to the experts, bird flu virus first seen in chickens was H5N1’s 3.2 Mongolia and H5N1’s 3.1 Chinese species.
However, the latest H5N1 3.3.1.1 detected in the fowls is purely a virus strain that grew in Nepal, and it was the result of the use of unauthorised anti-bird flu vaccine, they said.
Dr Sitalkaji Shrestha, General Secretary, Nepal Veterinary Association, said that anti-bird flu vaccine could not be used in Nepal as no such vaccine was registered with the concerned authority. He, however, said that such unauthorised vaccines were being imported. Dr Shrestha said the government had ‘given the consent at policy level’ for vaccine import after poultry entrepreneurs demanded use of it. “But the vaccines have entered Nepal illegally. The government has consented for vaccine import only at the policy level,” Dr Shrestha added.
According to a veterinary doctor, poultry farmers in Chitwan had used such unauthorised vaccines for the first time. He said that vaccines manufactured by Merial, Pfizer and Civa companies usually enter the country. Civa is a French company, whereas Merial and Pfizer are United States-based companies.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Kathmandu today said no US vaccine for avian influenza is being ‘officially imported’ into Nepal.
Dr Prabhakar Pathak, Joint-Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture Development, however, expressed ignorance about the import of anti-bird flu vaccine.
According to Dr Shrestha, no new vaccine can be imported into the country unless certain guidelines are formulated about the use of the vaccine.
Tulsiram Dhukhwa, chairman, Bhaktapur Poultry Farmers’ Association, said farmers had concealed vaccines after ‘rumours started doing the rounds that anti-bird flu vaccine was behind the avian flu outbreak’.
“Poultry entrepreneurs are frightened and are not telling the truth for the fear of possible action. They are afraid as anti- bird flu vaccine resulted in the outbreak,” Dhukhwa said, adding that vaccine sellers, even though poulteres bought vaccines from them, would not provide the farmers with the bills as they were unauthorised and were imported illegally.
Dr Sudip Humagain, a veterinarian, said that vaccines can never stop bird flu and added that anti-bird flu vaccines must have been used in Nepal.
“They rather help in spread of bird flu. Had the vaccine been not used, new strain of virus would not have originated,” Dr Humagain added.
READ ALSO: 'Jabs for avian influenza banned'
Source: http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Use+of+unauthorised+vaccine+caused+H5N1+outbreak%3A+Vets&NewsID=387171&a=3
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