Health

Baxter: Product contained live bird flu virus

by nukegingrich | March 5, 2009 at 02:05 pm

1000 views | 68 Recommendations | 11 comments

When I saw this story on a website some days ago, but was unable to find any one else writing about it, I thought it might just be another of the whirlwind of unproven stories that find a home on the internet. Now, the Toronto Sun has picked up on the story.

The company that released contaminated flu virus material from a plant in Austria confirmed Friday that the experimental product contained live H5N1 avian flu viruses.

And an official of the World Health Organization’s European operation said the body is closely monitoring the investigation into the events that took place at Baxter International’s research facility in Orth-Donau, Austria.

“At this juncture we are confident in saying that public health and occupational risk is minimal at present,” medical officer Roberta Andraghetti said from Copenhagen, Denmark.

“But what remains unanswered are the circumstances surrounding the incident in the Baxter facility in Orth-Donau.”

The contaminated product, a mix of H3N2 seasonal flu viruses and unlabelled H5N1 viruses, was supplied to an Austrian research company. The Austrian firm, Avir Green Hills Biotechnology, then sent portions of it to sub-contractors in the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Germany.

With all of the talk about the pandemic possiblity of H5N1 mutating into something out of a Stephen King novel, I'm just shaking my head in wonder at the utter stupidity of Baxter International.

more:
BAX financial info.
Baxter International in the news

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

car1edb

at 15:28 on March 5th, 2009

More info here.

Keith Ranville

at 20:36 on March 5th, 2009

You still think having chicken and pigeons pig ect.. as a residential food program in Vancouver?

Steve Nolan (not verified)

at 17:54 on March 7th, 2009

It is highly probable that this was not an accident. I believe that Baxter have a vaccine for avian flu. They would stand to make a lot of money if there was a pandemic.

nukegingrich

at 15:47 on March 5th, 2009

thanks esta and car 1 edb.

I saw this a couple of days ago on Mike Adams' site. Thanks for linking it.

12 monkeys! great flick. Now playing at a research lab near you.

sara star

at 15:58 on March 5th, 2009

A lot of times that is what a vaccine contains, the disease itself, so that your body makes antibodies against it naturally.

Paschen

at 18:35 on March 5th, 2009

Sorry I missed your post earlier, since you are the first to have posted this news and the second post should link to yours.

nukegingrich

at 21:35 on March 5th, 2009

Great point. Talk about your unintended consequences ...

georgeN (not verified)

at 12:18 on March 8th, 2009

WE THE PEOPLE ARE BEING ROBBED AND MURDERED BY A GLOBAL ELITE...WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

CAN ANYONE SAY "REVOLUTION"?

robert e. smth (not verified)

at 22:00 on March 8th, 2009

sara,, you are wrong vaccien's contain an attenuated form of the pathogen,,, not the live virus or other microbial agent

sara star

at 11:49 on March 23rd, 2009

sara star

at 11:54 on March 23rd, 2009

Oh that is a relief!

What kind of flu vaccines are there?
There are two types of vaccines that protect against the flu. The "flu shot" is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use among people 6 months of age or older, including healthy people and those with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease). A different kind of vaccine, called the nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes referred to as LAIV for Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine or FluMist®), was approved in 2003. The nasal-spray flu vaccine contains attenuated (weakened) live viruses, and is administered by nasal sprayer. It is approved for use only among healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.