China Daily says Chinese scientists have developed a new vaccine that can protect poultry from bird flu.

The paper said on Monday that researchers at the Key Laboratory of Animal Influenza, affiliated with the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, had developed a new vaccine that allegedly works better and lasts longer than existing medicines.

According to their findings, the vaccine enables chickens, ducks and geese to fight H5N1, a highly lethal strain of bird flu, three weeks after the flocks are vaccinated. It will provide at least 10 months of protection for chickens and ducks, which is four months longer than other vaccines, and three months of protection for geese.

The paper said that China's Health Ministry expressed hope that the new vaccine could eliminate a key link in the transmission chain of the disease.