GSK hosts seminar on flu virus

M Azizul Huq, managing director of GSK Bangladesh, speaks at a scientific seminar on “Flu Vaccination: Bangladesh Viewpoint” at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka. Photo: GSK

GlaxoSmithKline Bangladesh Ltd yesterday organised a scientific symposium to discuss 'Flu Virus and Vaccinations' at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
The expert panel held discussions on the flu virus, the burden of the disease, and the importance of the flu vaccine in the context of Bangladesh.
M Azizul Huq, managing director of GSK Bangladesh Ltd, and Dr AJ Chitkara, head of the pediatrics department at Max Hospital in Delhi, spoke at the symposium among others.
They said the flu is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, including Bangladesh. In 2007-08, among all collected specimens, about 10 percent were flu positive.
The only effective way to prevent the flu is vaccination, which has a strong impact on the clinical and economical burden of the disease, the pharmaceutical company said in a statement.
According to the statement, of several types of flu vaccines, Fluarix produced by the company has constantly proven to be safe and well tolerated.