mRNA Vaccine Shows Promise Against H5N1 Bird Flu

Researchers claim that an experimental H5N1 avian flu mRNA vaccination prevented severe sickness and mortality in lab mice. Experts claimed that vaccination may help stop H5N1 bird flu epidemics in US wild birds, poultry, and cows.

Scott Hensley, a microbiology professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, said the H5N1 vaccine uses mRNA technology like the COVID-19 vaccines, enabling quick production after viral strain sequencing.

In a press statement, Hensley noted the challenge of manufacturing flu vaccines during pandemics, such as the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, which "were not available until after the initial pandemic waves subsided,"

The production of traditional flu vaccines from fertilized chicken eggs can take six months, delaying vaccine availability during a pandemic.

Faster Production of Vaccines

Penn Medicine vaccine research head Dr. Drew Weissman noted that the COVID-19 pandemic taught experts "the power of mRNA-based vaccines" in speeding up response against emerging viruses, which protects humanity better from viruses.

Birds and cows have the H5N1 subtype, which the mRNA vaccine targets. This strain seldom infects people, yet it might mutate and produce a pandemic.

The experimental vaccination triggered a significant immunological response in lab mice and ferrets. A year after infection, the animals had high antibody levels, and vaccinated animals eliminated H5N1 faster and had fewer symptoms.

The egg-based and mRNA flu vaccines elicited high antibody responses in lab animals.

This development comes as the US and European governments acquire or manufacture H5N1 bird flu vaccinations to safeguard at-risk workers, veterinarians, and lab technicians from a pandemic.

The US revealed intentions last week to transform the CSL Seqirus bulk vaccine into completed injections, potentially producing 4.8 million doses. European health experts want the CSL pre-pandemic vaccine.

Scientists say Canada, the UK, and others are contemplating buying and making a prepandemic bird flu vaccine from GSK.

Since late 2020, a new strain of bird flu has killed record numbers of wild birds and farmed animals and infected many mammals.

The bird flu virus infected dozens of dairy animals in nine states and two workers in March. The FDA thinks 20% of US milk has the virus, indicating a greater spread.

Bird Flu Virus Mutation Found in Texas Dairy Worker

Experts say human exposure in the poultry and dairy industries may cause viral mutation and boost human transmission. This month, a Michigan dairy worker became the second human bird flu case connected to the multi-state H5N1 pandemic in US livestock. Officials found a "notable" mutation in the patient.

Genomic sequencing indicated a viral alteration from a Texas dairy worker infection, increasing worries about its propensity to infect people.

On Friday, the CDC said the tiny genetic alteration is "associated with viral adaptation to mammalian hosts," which increases virus proliferation and illness severity in mice during avian influenza virus research. Dr. Rick Bright, an immunologist and influenza expert, stressed the need for deep sequencing of each virus to speed up vaccine and antiviral research worldwide.

Despite the virus's evolution, the CDC claims it resembles the H5N1 strain in US dairy cattle and matches two vaccine candidates.

Experts expect more bird flu outbreaks among dairy workers as surveillance increases nationwide.

Following their exposure to bird flu-infected animals in 68 herds across nine states, at least 350 humans are under observation.