China's state-run Xinhua News reports Chinese scientists have developed a new vaccine to prevent the bird flu virus H5N1.

The report said China’s National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory’s new vaccine is more effective than existing ones.

The lab’s Director Chen Hulan said the vaccine provides complete protection against the H1N1 virus in animals.

Since 2003, 421 people have been inflected with the avian influenza virus in 15 countries. Of those, 247 died, giving the virus a fatality rate of 61 percent.

The research results were published in the international journal Pathogens published by the Public Library of Science.