USDA grants full license for West Nile Virus vaccine

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted a full license to Fort Dodge Animal Health for its West Nile Virus (WNV) vaccine, labeled West Nile - Innovator(tm). Fort Dodge received a conditional license for the vaccine in August 2001, while efficacy studies were being conducted, due to the threat of West Nile virus in horses.Efficacy study results submitted to the USDA in 2002 demonstrated that Fort Dodge's inactivated West Nile vaccine is immunogenic and efficacious, the company says. The study summary showed that 95 percent of horses vaccinated with two doses of West Nile - Innovator, and challenged with the live virus one year later, were free from viremia. In addition, 82 percent of the non-vaccinated horses developed active WNV infection, evidenced by recovery of the virus from blood samples.

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