Lourenço Melo
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - Brazil is now ready to begin manufacturing a vaccine that will be used in the case of the transmission of bird flu to human beings. The vaccine will be made at the Instituto Butantã, in São Paulo, beginning in July, reports the minister of Health, José Agenor Alvarez. The government will be spending US$13;2 million to produce the vaccines.

Meanwhile, according to the minister, Brazil is in constant, real time, contact with the rest of the world receiving and exchanging information on the disease. This week Brazil will have a special contingency plan in operation at all airports to stop bird flu from entering the country.

Translation: Allen Bennett