Starting next week, Finland will become the first country to offer bird flu vaccinations. This year alone, 11 people have tested positive for bird flu across four countries. 

Finland's proactive measures aim to prevent any human infections, especially after a recent outbreak in fur farms that led to the culling of 485,000 animals.  

Finland Is Leading Bird Flu Vaccinations

Finland is set to become the first country to offer bird flu vaccinations amid growing concerns over the spread of the H5N1 virus in humans. The government plans to administer 10,000 doses to high-risk workers, including those in poultry and fur farms. 

Daily Mail reported that these workers will receive two vaccine doses, spaced at least a week apart. The vaccines will be distributed when they arrive from stockpiles in central Europe.

The bird flu virus is not currently well-adapted to infect people, and the CDC said the risk to humans is low. However, experts worry that new mutations could increase this risk, as each infection outside birds poses a potential danger. 

This year, at least 11 people have tested positive for bird flu in four countries. So far, no human infections have been reported in Finland.

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Concerns, Precautions Amid Global Bird Flu Cases

Finland decided to roll out bird flu vaccinations after an outbreak on 27 fur farms last year, affecting mink and foxes. While no humans were infected, the outbreak led to the culling of 485,000 animals to prevent further spread. 

The vaccination campaign in Finland will use a vaccine targeting the H5 protein on the virus, which is expected to be effective against H5N1 infections. The vaccines, supplied by Australian company CSL Seqirus, are part of a European Union effort to procure 40 million doses across 15 countries.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) announced that the bird flu vaccine will be available to individuals aged 18 and over at higher risk of contracting the virus due to work or other situations.

This group includes workers on fur and poultry farms, lab technicians handling bird flu samples, and veterinarians in areas with fur farms. Additionally, those working in bird sanctuaries, on farms, or cleaning slaughterhouses and animal housing will also be eligible for the vaccine.

If a human infection is detected, the vaccine will also be given to the person's close contacts. Health officials expect the vaccine to produce enough antibodies against bird flu infection.

A study with 3,400 participants revealed that 90% of individuals under 60 and 80% of those over 60 had sufficient antibody levels to protect against H5N1. The vaccine has also been confirmed safe.

In the US, 4.8 million doses of the bird flu vaccine are expected to arrive by late summer, but there are no plans for distribution yet. The US Department of Agriculture reported that 118 dairy cow herds across 12 states have confirmed H5N1 cases, and three human cases have been linked to direct contact with infected cattle.

These individuals experienced symptoms like eye swelling and respiratory issues. Despite the spread, the CDC maintained that the risk to humans remains low. However, the unprecedented outbreak in cattle has sparked worries that the virus might be getting closer to infecting people.

H5N1 has been causing a significant outbreak in the animal kingdom for months, affecting a wide range of species, including foxes, raccoons, dolphins, and seals.

Related Article: Vaccines in the Works: Scientists Prepare for Potential Human Bird Flu Pandemic