Hong Kong scientists have been researching a vaccine for the avian flu epidemic, commonly known as bird flu.

Doctor John Nichols, a pathologist at Hong Kong University, says it's still need time to give full diagnosis to the deadly virus, and a lack of scientific data may be an obstacle to the research, and subsequently, delay the control of the disease.

"From the science point, the thing which I can worry about is the paucity of information the fact that we are dealing with something which is resolved very rapidly and may not be that time to do such the long-standing research."

To protect Hong Kong against the virus, the Hong Kong government is providing more training for medical workers, focusing on preventing the spread of the disease.

Training includes learning how to effectively isolate patients and wear protective clothing.

Bird flu hit Asia early this year, causing the death or culling of 120 million poultry birds, and 32 people were killed in Thailand and Vietnam among human-infected cases.

(Xinhua News Agency December 9, 2004)