The US and Europe consider avian influenza vaccination for dairy workers

The US and Europe are taking steps to purchase or produce avian flu vaccines to protect poultry and dairy workers.

US officials last week said they were shipping large quantities of CSL Seqirus vaccine suitable for preventing the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The amount of vaccine that can be provided is up to 4.8 million doses.

Meanwhile, European health officials told Reuters that they are negotiating to buy CSL Seqirus’s vaccine amid the risk of an avian flu pandemic.

Canadian health officials said they met with GSK – Canada’s seasonal flu vaccine manufacturer – to discuss purchasing and producing avian flu vaccines before the pandemic.

The above moves follow the explosive spread of a strain of bird flu – which emerged at the end of 2020 and has caused an unprecedented number of deaths of wild and domestic birds, and arrested initially infected many mammals.

Image: Pexels

In March, the US reported its first outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows. Accordingly, the avian flu virus has infected dozens of dairy herds in 9 states and 2 dairy workers.

The US Food and Drug Administration estimates that 20% of the country’s milk supply shows signs of avian influenza virus infection, suggesting the possibility of wider spread.

Human exposure to viruses during poultry and dairy operations can increase the risk of the virus mutating and being able to spread easily among humans.

Dr. Angela Rasmussen – a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan – said she has discussed with US and Canadian officials the use of vaccines to protect workers, veterinarians and laboratory technicians with The risk of disease is higher after the virus spreads to new mammal species.

Dawn O’Connell of the US Strategic Preparedness and Response Agency said the US government is “carefully looking” at the possibility of vaccinating farm workers and those in close contact with the virus.

In addition, the US has signed contracts with CSL and GSK to test pre-pandemic bird flu vaccines, which target the circulating virus strain, in addition to older H5N1 vaccines.

An official from the US Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that the country is conducting research on the CSL vaccine.

Quỳnh Chi (According to: The Canberra Times)

Source: VTV Online

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