27 April 2006
Unterschleißheim, Germany
On initiative of several federal states, Germany has obtained the European Union’s permission to vaccinate birds in zoos against avian influenza. To show its commitment to the preservation and protection of valuable and rare bird species, Intervet Deutschland will make the required quantities of the vaccine available to the zoos participating in the vaccination program free of charge.
After obtaining permission from the national authorities, zoos in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Thuringia will start vaccinating their birds. Intervet is offering its Nobilis Influenza vaccine, which is based on the H5N2 vaccine strain, free of charge. Given the presence of the N2 component, vaccinated animals can be clearly distinguished from animals infected with the H5N1 field virus.
For several years, Intervet’s vaccine has been used on a large scale and with a great deal of success. In Hong Kong, for instance, it was used as part of the official national control program, while France used it to vaccinate free-range geese and ducks. It has also been used effectively for the protection of animals in zoos in a large number of European countries, including neighboring Belgium and the Netherlands.
Experience indicates that vaccinated animals no longer excrete any virus, or so little that no field virus can be transferred to other animals. This makes vaccination a key component in the efficient control of avian influenza. When preparing for an emergency, it would be useful to set up a vaccine bank in order to have rapid access to sufficient quantities of the vaccine.
Note for the editor:
Intervet, a business unit of Akzo Nobel, based in Boxmeer, the Netherlands, with sales of EUR 1,094 million in 2005, is dedicated to research and development, production and marketing of innovative animal health products. Intervet's product range for use in livestock, companion animals, poultry and fish includes vaccines, antiparasitics, anti-infectives, endocrine products and other pharmaceutical specialties. Intervet operates globally with its own marketing organizations. The company currently employs around 5,000 people.
Internet: www.intervet.com
Akzo Nobel is a Global Fortune 500 company and is listed on both the Euronext Amsterdam and NASDAQ stock exchanges. It is also included on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes and FTSE4Good Index. Based in the Netherlands, we are a multicultural organization serving customers throughout the world with human and animal healthcare products, coatings, and chemicals. We employ around 61,500 people and conduct our activities in four segments − human and animal health, coatings and chemicals − subdivided into 13 business units, with operating subsidiaries in more than 80 countries. Consolidated revenues for 2005 totaled EUR 13.0 billion. The financial results for the second quarter will be published on July 20, 2006.
Internet: www.akzonobel.com
Not for publication – for more information
Sabine Schueller
Communications & Public Affairs
Intervet International bv
Tel: +31 (0)485 587085
Fax: +31 (0)485 585392
communications@intervet.com
Birgit Deger
Marketing Kommunikation
Intervet Deutschland GmbH
Tel : +49 (0)89 31006-415
Fax : +49 (0)89 31006-109
birgit.deger@intervet.com
