Using antibodies from H5N1 survivors may be our best hope

From the Independent:

"Scientists say they may have found a way of combating the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu that has claimed dozens of lives around the world. The partly UK-funded research successfully used antibodies from survivors of the virus to stop the full-blown disease from developing in mice."

"[T]he scientists, based in Vietnam, Switzerland and the US, are optimistic that antibodies from Vietnamese survivors could be used in the fight against infection. The researchers found the antibodies provided significant immunity to mice that were subsequently infected with the Vietnam strain of H5N1."

This is an interesting and encouraging development. I've read from previous studies of the 1918 pandemic response that using antibodies from those that caught the flu and survived was one of the only treatment strategies that seemed to work...

http://news.independent.co.uk/sci_tech/article2591500.ece

Also, more info at CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/05/28/bird.flu.ap/index.html