2024-07-11 08:58:09
SSince the new Corona, “pandemic” has become a buzz word. Currently there is a lot of attention on this The H5N1 bird flu virus is currently circulating, which biologist Christian Drosten and other experts see as a potential pandemic candidate. In the event of an outbreak between people, Germany will probably be better prepared than in the case of Corona. What you need to know.
The H5N1 virus has been spreading in birds for decades – initially in Asia, now almost worldwide. Livestock also get sick. A major group of H5N1 viruses, called clade 2.3.4.4b, has been circulating for several years. in the USA many cows had the disease and became sick again. There was no previous H5N1 infection. It is still unclear how the transmission from wild birds to cows occurred. What is certain is that people have also been infected from meat. According to the US health authority CDC, four cases were recorded at the site of the outbreak in American dairy farms in the middle of the year.
According to psychologist Leif Erik Sander from the Berlin Charité, there is currently no reason for people in Germany to worry. To date, only H5N1-infected cattle have been recorded in the US. In Germany, the pathogen is not found in cow or milk. Infections among infected people in the US have been very low. The World Health Organization (WHO) also assesses the risk to public health of the general population as low.
Still, Sander considers the cow outbreak a concern because the virus is emerging in many livestock that are used by humans. One of the biggest concerns is that the virus will continue to adapt. “If the virus spreads in one species, the concern is that it could adapt to other animals or mix with other influenza viruses. This will allow it to affect more people and then possibly spread from person to person. “
The H5N1 virus has been affecting wild birds and poultry for decades – now almost worldwide
Source: Getty Images / Peter Garrard Beck
According to Sander, the vaccine situation is completely different than with Corona, where a script has to be produced first. For a number of companies, the development of vaccines against new virus strains is frequent because they repeat this twice a year for seasonal flu vaccines, according to a spokesperson for the Association of Research-Based Drug Manufacturers (VFA) explained.
One each is needed for the southern and northern hemispheres of the earth. According to the seasonal flu, the H5N1 virus is an influenza A virus. According to the Paul Ehrlich Institute, several H5N1 vaccines are approved in the European Union. These will be produced either by using chicken eggs or by multiplying the viruses in cell culture, such as seasonal influenza vaccines.
Vaccines can be adapted quickly
The EU recently secured 665,000 doses of vaccine from the manufacturer CSL Seqirus against the transmission of bird flu from animals to humans for several member states. Germany is not currently participating.
Sander believes that in the event of a bird flu epidemic, vaccines can be quickly made available to people in Germany. “We have vaccines that have been approved and can be adapted quickly in a time when a virus is causing a pandemic.” Consequently, production capacities will have to increase accordingly. There are pre-pandemic vaccines or model vaccines that have already been prepared, but are not yet resistant to the new H5N1 viruses. Professor Berlin is convinced that this reform can be done quickly.
Vaccination for cattle will have to be completely tested; “That should happen now.” Theoretically, the same vaccine could be used for cattle and humans, Sander said. However, there are often different manufacturers of human and vaccines.
According to the VFA, a number of companies are currently developing novel flu vaccines based on mRNA – a technology that is also used in part in Covid-19 vaccines. These include the US company Moderna and the Tübingen biotech company Curevac in collaboration with the British biopharmaceutical company GSK. The second phase of the clinical trial of the bird flu vaccine should start as soon as possible, said Curevac spokesman Patrick Perez. Further progress will be taken by GSK. Three clinical levels are usually required for approval.
It’s a pre-pandemic vaccine, explained Perez. The strategy is based on developing a vaccine to such an extent before a possible outbreak that it can be approved and made available quickly in the event of a pandemic. “This offers the advantage of being able to react quickly in the event of a pandemic without having to approve, pre-issue and store a vaccine if it is ever needed.”
As a US manufacturer, competitor Moderna is still in clinical research. “We expect the first preliminary results from these studies later this year. If these results are positive, the vaccine candidate will advance to Phase 3 development,” the company said.
Sander said: “At this time there is no reason to actively vaccinate people: “It is not about spreading the concern that a pandemic is imminent. But you should do everything you can to prepare. ” Who is eligible for the vaccine depends entirely on the scenario. If there are large outbreaks among farm animals in Germany, one might consider vaccinating farm workers as a precautionary measure. From his point of view, it would be especially interesting to have vaccines for animals.
In Finland, people from certain risk groups are already vaccinated against bird flu. According to the national health authority THL, vaccination doses should be given initially to adults with an increased risk of infection. This includes people who work on fur farms or poultry farms, veterinarians or those involved in the disposal of sick birds or other animals. In Finland, bird flu broke out in several mink farms.
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