On Jun. 15, 2008, Australia announced it had approved the first locally made vaccine to protect humans from future bird flu, giving the nod to Panvax manufactured by CSL.

Experts fear the H5N1 virus, which has led to the slaughter of many poultry populations worldwide, could mutate into a form easily spread among people and spark a pandemic. The virus has killed 241 people in a dozen countries since 2003.

Panvax can only be used once an influenza pandemic has been officially declared by the World Health Organisation.