Russia's Flu Institute claimed yesterday to have developed a reliable bird flu vaccine.

Gamma-interferon, originally developed for a range of flu-causing viruses, has been remade for the strain of H5N1 bird flu virus found in Vietnam, but could be modified to treat the strain found in Turkey and other parts of Asia, institute director Oleg Kiselyov told a Moscow news conference.

H5N1 has also been found in birds in Russia and Ukraine. An ampoule of gamma-interferon will cost about £17. Mr Kiselyov said its use provides a positive effect within a day and cuts mortality dramatically.