Researcher finds bird flu antigen

Researcher finds bird flu antigen

SEMARANG: An agricultural researcher claims to have discovered
a herbal antigen for avian influenza, which has killed three
people in the country.

Sumardi of the School of Agricultural Science at
Soegijapranata Catholic University in Semarang said his herbal
concoction had passed a test at the veterinary laboratory at the
Yogyakarta agricultural agency, and limited amounts had been sold
in East Java.

The test showed that six out of 12 chickens that had been
given the herbal concoction survived the virus.

"The medicine is only effective for healthy chicken," Sumardi
said, adding that he was in the process of patenting his recipe.

Repeated outbreaks of avian influenza virus have seen 8.9
million chicken slaughtered since 2003. The virus also claimed
the first human casualties recently. -- Antara