17.02.2009

Contaminated vaccine

An Austrian pharmaceutical firm sent a flu vaccine, which it had accidentally contaminated with the H5N1 avian influenza virus, for testing in the Czech Republic. The Austrian firm Baxter said it contaminated the vaccine by accident, likely during packaging in Austria.
Baxter shipped the infected vaccine to the Czech biomedical firm Biotest for testing on ferrets in late January.
The contaminated product, which Baxter calls "experimental virus material," was made at the Orth-Donau research facility.
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. 

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.
The World Health Organization's European operation is closely monitoring the investigation into the events that took place at Baxter International's research facility in Orth-Donau, Austria.

Baxter's error is reminiscent of a 2005 incident where a U.S. manufacturer of kits used by laboratories to test their detection capabilities included vials of H2N2 virus in several thousand proficiency kits.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on 5th March 2008, they had found evidence that the heparin blood thinning product made by Baxter was contaminated. 19 people have died and 785 were reported to be gravely ill of severe allergic reactions after receiving injections of Baxter's heparin.