Bird flu, which until recently did not pose a threat to humans, is now becoming an increasingly serious public health problem. The virus began to infect people and spread from mammals, not just birds. But the most unpleasant thing is that it has a high mortality rate, which according to some estimates reaches 60%. It is therefore not surprising that some pharmaceutical companies began developing vaccines against the avian influenza virus last year. Finland will be the first country to begin vaccinating its citizens.
Vaccination of people against bird flu will begin in Finland
Vaccination against bird flu — who will it affect
Recently, the bird flu virus has increasingly appeared in the headlines of the world media. Not long ago we talked about the first time in the United States that a person became infected with the virus from a cow. Subsequently, two more farm workers were infected with bird flu, making a total of three cases. This is really unpleasant news, since previously people were only infected with the virus directly from birds.
However, there is no evidence yet of transmission of the virus between people. Therefore, people who come into contact with animals, such as those who work on farms, are currently at greatest risk of infection. If the virus begins to spread from person to person, the risk of infection will threaten everyone without exception.
In the United States, people began to become infected with bird flu from cows
Given this prospect, the European Union signed a contract with CSL Seqirus on June 11, 2024 to supply more than 40 million doses of vaccine to 15 member countries, as reported by Reuters. True, they will be supplied within four years as the infection spreads. The first batch provides for the supply of 665 thousand doses.
It must be said that it is not only the European Union that is concerned about the purchase of avian flu vaccines. Similar efforts are already underway in the US, Canada and the UK. Since cases of infection are becoming more and more, and it is already obvious that the virus can spread across the planet, it is safe to say that other countries will also begin to purchase or develop their own vaccines.
As mentioned above, the first country Finland will be the country that will begin vaccination. True, it will not affect all citizens, but only those who are at greatest risk of infection, for example, poultry farm workers.
The vaccine was developed against the H5N8 strain
Avian flu vaccine
The vaccine in question is developed against the zoonotic flu Seqirus. It was approved for use by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) back in October 2023. However, the vaccine was not developed against the H5N1 strain, which has been spreading around the world and infecting people recently, but is aimed at the H5N8 virus.
However, the target of the vaccine is the surface protein hemagglutinin of the virus, that is, the “H” part, which is the same in both strains. Of course, there is no 100% certainty that the vaccine will be effective against both strains, but the chances are quite high. In any case, there is still no other vaccine.
Why bird flu vaccination will start in Finland
It must be said that no case of human infection with the H5N1 virus has yet been registered in any EU country. There are no cases of infection in Finland either. But what is the reason for the haste in making decisions in this case?
The vaccine will be given first to people who have the highest risk of contracting bird flu
The thing is that in Finland in 2023 there were many large outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 in wild birds, as well as in animals of more than 500 farms of the country. This means that another outbreak may occur at any moment, but this time not only animals, but also people can become infected.
The infection of animals raised for their fur with the virus is of particular concern. These include, for example, mink, which is especially susceptible to bird flu. Such animals contribute to the spread of the virus among mammals, including increasing the risk of human infection.
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It is possible that if the vaccine is effective against the H5N1 strain, it can be stopped before an epidemic occurs. Otherwise, bird flu has a chance to become the disease X that scientists are currently expecting.