Radiation Vaccination breakthrough?

Radiation vaccination may be possible, say Scientists in the US say it may soon be possible to vaccinate emergency workers against the effects of a nuclear explosion.

The US researchers have found that a certain type of gene therapy appears to protect mice from the effects of exposure to radiation.

Since the September 11 attacks on the US, It has been considered terrorists may attempt to explode a crude nuclear device, called a "dirty bomb". Experts say that such a bomb, made up of nuclear waste wrapped around a conventional explosive, could disperse large amounts of radiation over a city area and that significant numbers of people would die within 30 says of exposure.

This research was founded by Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine who were trying to develop a treatment that would protect relief workers in such as crisis.

In experiments with mice they used a tiny artificial sac to deliver a protective compound to every cell.

24 Hrs later, mice were exposed to doses of whole body radiation.

Mice given the gene therapy survived.